Museum of Farming Life
Museum of rural life in the farm buildings beside the walled Great Garden at Pitmedden, run by the National Trust for Scotland.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museum of Farming Life is part of Pitmedden Garden, a property of the National Trust for Scotland near Ellon in Aberdeenshire. The Trust received the garden in 1952 as a gift from Major James Keith, and the museum was later set up in the former farm buildings next to the garden. It is entered on the same ticket as the garden.
The displays show how people lived and worked on the land in north-east Scotland from the 19th century onwards. They are spread across the farm buildings and include farm tools and machinery, workshops, stables and a bothy where farm workers lived, as well as rooms furnished as in a farmhouse. Some museum buildings have original cobbled floors, and the upper levels can only be reached by stairs.
The visit is usually combined with the garden. This is a re-created Scottish Renaissance walled garden with colourful parterres, an orchard of more than 200 fruit trees, and woodland trails on the estate.
Highlights
- Farm buildings with tools, machinery and workshops
- Stables, farmhouse rooms and a farm workers' bothy
- Combined ticket with the Great Garden at Pitmedden
- Tearoom, shop and waymarked woodland trails
- Free entry for National Trust for Scotland members
Permanent exhibition
- Museum of Farming Life – Farm buildings with agricultural tools and machinery, workshops, stables, a bothy and furnished farmhouse rooms showing rural life from the 19th century.
- Founded
- 1977
- Operated by
- National Trust for Scotland
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £11 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £9Concession |
| Families | £24Family ticket |
| One-adult family | £18.50 |
| Young Scot | £1 |
| Car park | £5Free for members |
The ticket covers the garden and the Museum of Farming Life. Admission is free for National Trust for Scotland members. The Trust also offers a two-for-one entry for rail travellers who bring a valid rail ticket and a voucher.
Accessibility
- Partially 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
Pitmedden is a heritage site with some uneven surfaces. Most museum buildings are accessible, but some have original cobbled floors and the upper levels can only be reached by stairs. In the garden there are 16 steps between the upper and lower parterres, and staff can guide wheelchair users on a longer detour with slopes and uneven ground. A detailed accessibility guide is available. Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £24 · Family ticket |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The property lists children's activities, buggy access and baby changing among its facilities. Some surfaces are uneven.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bonnyton Road
Bus 290 or 291 from Aberdeen, or bus 49 from Ellon, to the Bonnyton Road stop in Pitmedden village, then a walk along the Pitmedden Garden estate walk to the entrance.
By car
Paid parking
The car park costs £5 and is free for members. It is open daily from 09:30 to 16:30 and is locked overnight. Coach parking is available. There are no electric car charging points.
- Accessible parking
The garden is just off the A920, 1 mile west of Pitmedden village and 14 miles north of Aberdeen. Satellite navigation often leads to the estate's work area, so follow the brown signs once in Pitmedden village.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Tearoom and shop; the tearoom takes last orders at 15:45.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The garden is usually visited together with the museum. |
|---|
