Tangwick Haa Museum

About the museum

Tangwick Haa was built in the late 17th century as a three-storey house for the Cheyne family, who owned the Tangwick estate. The last resident laird, John Cheyne VIII, died in 1840, after which a caretaker looked after the house and the family used it as a summer home until the First World War. For much of the 20th century it stood empty or served as a workshop and fell into decay.

The owner of the estate handed the Haa to the Shetland Amenity Trust, which renovated it in 1985 with the help of the Tangwick Haa Museum group. The museum opened in 1987. The former kitchen extension was renovated and completed in 1999 and now holds an exhibition that changes every year.

The displays tell the story of Northmavine and its people through artefacts and photographs. Among the objects is a sympiesometer, a type of barometer that passing fishermen could read, and one room is furnished as the laird's room. The museum has a garden with a picnic area, offers tea and coffee making facilities and gives local tourist information.

Highlights

• Artefacts and photographs of life in Northmavine
• Annual themed exhibition (2026: Northmavine Through the Seasons)
• Sympiesometer, a barometer that fishermen could read
• Room of the 19th-century lairds
• Garden with picnic area at Eshaness

Permanent exhibition

• Northmavine through the years – Permanent displays of artefacts and photographs on the life of Northmavine, including the laird's room, with an annually changing theme in the former kitchen extension.

Founded

1987

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

A tourism listing reports disabled access on the ground floor, and the website lists an accessible toilet.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 38 miles north of Lerwick and 20 miles north of Brae in the North Mainland, near the Eshaness cliffs.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi internet access is available. Visitors can make tea or coffee; there is no café. The garden has a picnic area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit