Museum nan Eilean

About the museum

Museum nan Eilean is the museum of the Outer Hebrides heritage service in Stornoway, run by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The museum service was set up in the 1980s as the first professional museum service for the Western Isles, and the museum long occupied a former school building on Francis Street in the town centre.

The museum now stands in a modern building in the grounds of Lews Castle, beside the restored castle, and opened there in July 2016. It is on one level, with a drop-off bay for coaches and its own car park, and the Storehouse Café next door is reached through a connecting door.

The permanent displays use the islands' own voices and landscapes to explain how people have lived in the Outer Hebrides. A film gallery shows the landscape in changing weather, a second gallery lets islanders describe daily life in their own words and points visitors to the local historical societies, and the main gallery looks at the land, the sea, working life and community life, and ends with a look to the future. A separate gallery at the far end shows changing exhibitions, either made locally or touring.

Highlights

• Dùthchas | A Sense of Place: immersive film of island landscapes
• Eileanaich | The Islanders: residents describe island life in their own words
• Blas nan Eilean | A Taste of the Islands: land, sea, working life and community life
• Special Exhibitions Gallery with changing shows
• Storehouse Café next door in Lews Castle

Permanent exhibitions

• Dùthchas | A Sense of Place – An immersive film shows the moorland, machair, croft and seascape of the Outer Hebrides in changing weather.
• Eileanaich | The Islanders – Island residents describe daily life in their own words, and the gallery shows where to find the local historical societies.
• Blas nan Eilean | A Taste of the Islands – The main gallery covers the land, the sea, working life and community life, and ends with a look to the future.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Heritage Service)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is by donation, with £5 per person suggested. Donations support special projects, new acquisitions and conservation.

Accessibility

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

The museum is on one level and fully accessible, and one wheelchair can be borrowed from reception. A hearing loop covers the museum, and fixed and folding seating is provided. Magnifying frames are available on request. There are three disabled parking bays closest to the entrance and one at the far end of the first block (a Blue Badge must be displayed). Accessible cubicles are in the men's and women's toilets, and a separate accessible toilet with baby changing is to the left of reception. There is no dedicated adult changing area. Assistance dogs are welcome; other pets are not allowed.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

Family activities take place in the Learning Room. Baby changing is in the accessible toilet, and breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands beside Lews Castle in the castle grounds, about a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from the centre of Stornoway. Coaches can also turn and park at the far end of the second parking block.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The Storehouse Café, run by Together Travel, is in Lews Castle and connects to the museum by a door. Food and drink are not allowed in the galleries.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The Learning Room and the Special Exhibitions Gallery can be hired when available.

Plan your visit