Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine

About the museum

The Scottish Maritime Museum was set up as a charitable trust that became operational in 1983. It has two sites, one at Dumbarton and one at Irvine on the Ayrshire coast. The Irvine site was established in 1991, when the Category A listed former engine shop of the shipbuilders Alexander Stephen and Sons was saved from the derelict Linthouse shipyard in Glasgow and moved to the harbour at Irvine. The building is known as the Linthouse and has been described as Scotland's cathedral of engineering.

The museum tells the story of Scotland's maritime past and of the people who built and sailed its ships. Its collection includes marine engines, industrial machine tools, a recreated 1920s tenement flat and an art collection, together with floating vessels moored at its pontoon. The best-known are the Clyde puffer MV Spartan, described as the last Scottish-built puffer, the harbour tug Garnock and the steam yacht Carola, built in 1898. The iron vessel Kyles, built at Paisley in 1872, entered the collection in 1984.

Visitors can look round the Linthouse and the Boatshop, where the gift shop and a café bistro are, and see the outdoor exhibition inside the puffer Spartan. Children's trails and activities run during the year, and the museum offers quiet openings on the first Monday of each month.

Highlights

• Linthouse, a Category A listed shipyard engine shop moved from Glasgow
• MV Spartan, described as the last Scottish-built Clyde puffer
• Harbour tug Garnock and steam yacht Carola
• Marine engines, a working engine in the fitting shed and machine tools
• Recreated 1920s shipyard workers' flat
• Trails and family activities

Permanent exhibition

• The Linthouse and the vessels – A relocated shipyard engine shop houses engines and machine tools, while the puffer Spartan, the tug Garnock and the steam yacht Carola tell the story of Scottish ships.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Scottish Maritime Museum Trust

Admission & discounts

Free entry is offered to registered carers, members of the ASVA scheme, Art Fund members and members of the museum, with proof of membership or ID. Membership costs from £21 for students and concessions, £26 for a single and £35 for a joint membership with up to six children.

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 all on one level and open plan, with ramps into the exhibition gallery, the fitting shed and the Boatshop, whose café door is heavy so staff can help. An accessible toilet near the main entrance has a nappy changing table, but there is no Changing Places toilet on site. Two disabled parking spaces are directly across from the main entrance. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free. A portable induction loop is at the visitor services desk and all films have captions. Registered guide and medical assistance dogs are welcome. Adult and child ear defenders are available on request. The front door of the shipyard workers' flat has two steps, but a step-free rear entrance is available on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Make and Take craft sessions and an under-5s sing-along run several times a month and are included in the ticket price unless stated otherwise. Seasonal interactive games and an activity trail are offered, and there is a children's play area in the reception area. A child-sized toilet seat insert and a potty are available. Up to three children aged 3 and over enter free with each paying adult.

Getting there & parking

From the A77 take the A71 and follow the brown signs. The museum is on National Cycle Network route 7, with bike racks and a bike maintenance kit. It also has its own pontoon in the harbour for visitors arriving by boat, which must be booked by email.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Puffers Café Bistro in the Boatshop looks over the River Irvine estuary, and the Linthouse Coffee Bar is by reception. The Museum Gift Shop is in the Boatshop. Wi-Fi is available for museum visitors in the Linthouse Coffee Bar.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit