Mary Ann's Cottage

About the museum

Mary Ann's Cottage, also called Westside Croft, stands near Dunnet in Caithness. John Young built the cottage in 1850, and the croft then passed to his son William and later to his granddaughter Mary Ann and her husband James Calder. Over three generations the way of life on the croft changed very little. The family lived from the land and from fishing, and they mended and reused tools and household objects rather than throwing them away.

Mary Ann Calder was born in the cottage in 1897. After her husband died in 1984 she stayed on alone for six more years, and in 1990, just before her 93rd birthday, she moved to a nursing home in Wick. She wanted the croft to be preserved, and the Caithness Heritage Trust was formed to take it over. She died in 1996, the day before her 99th birthday. The cottage is a listed building.

The furniture, fittings and everyday objects inside are original, and a peat fire is lit in the cottage. Visitors also see the outbuildings, including the lower barn with antique farm equipment, the cart sheds with the family's old tractor, the stable and byre, the milk house and James Calder's workshop of old tools. The site is run by volunteers and opens in summer.

Highlights

• Original furniture and household objects in a croft cottage unchanged for decades
• Peat fire lit in the cottage
• Lower barn with antique farm equipment
• The family's old tractor in the cart shed
• James Calder's workshop of old tools

Permanent exhibition

• The croft: cottage and farm buildings – The original cottage interior and outbuildings, shown as they were when the Calder family left in 1990.

Operated by

Caithness Heritage Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are per adult and include the guided tour. Payment is by cash or card on arrival. No concession or family prices are listed.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Disabled access is limited because of the layout of the old building.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The cottage is on Ness Road at Dunnet, near Dwarwick Pier. The what3words address is repeat.salutes.crusted.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit