Westray Heritage Centre
Volunteer-run heritage centre in Pierowall, Orkney, showing the Westray Wife figurine, the Westray Stone and island history from the Neolithic to the Vikings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Westray Heritage Centre stands in the middle of Pierowall, the main village on the island of Westray in Orkney. It is run by the Westray Heritage Trust, an independent charity staffed by volunteers, and it holds full museum accreditation.
The older of its two display halls dates from the 1850s and now hosts sales of local books and crafts. The main hall is part of a later architect-designed extension with LED lighting and ground-source heating. A media room shows films on island heritage, such as the archaeological dig at Noltland and kelp making, and an archive room holds more than 8,000 local photographs, books and family records that can be used for research.
The displays follow the story of the island from the Neolithic period through the Viking age to present-day industries such as farming, shellfish and salmon. The best-known objects are the Westray Wife, a figurine about 5,000 years old found at the Links of Noltland, and the spiral-carved Westray Stone, found by chance in a Pierowall quarry in 1981. The garden contains replica kelp-drying walls and the skeleton of a 40-foot sperm whale.
Highlights
- Westray Wife, an early Neolithic figure from the Links of Noltland
- Westray Stone with spiral carving
- Viking-age finds including a fish-tailed comb
- Local geology and fossil collection with a replica sea inlet
- Archive of over 8,000 local photographs and family records
- Sperm whale skeleton in the garden
Permanent exhibitions
- Westray Wife and Westray Stone – Displays on the Neolithic figurine and the spiral-carved stone, together with Viking-age finds from the island.
- Natural history and local industry – A fossil and geology collection, a replica sea inlet with seabird habitats and a wall of sailing-ship drawings from the salt cod trade, plus panels on farming and fishing today.
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Westray Heritage Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for visitors under 18. |
Card holders (the type of card is not specified) enter free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is wheelchair access to all public areas, and assistance dogs are welcome. The toilets are equipped for visitors with disabilities.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Baby changing facilities
Under-18s enter free and a baby-changing facility is provided.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hotel car park (Pierowall)
The Westray Bus stops at the hotel car park opposite the centre. It meets the ferry at Rapness; from September to April it must be booked in advance.
By car
Parking available
Car parking is available at the centre.
The centre is in the middle of Pierowall, seven miles north of Rapness ferry terminal and three miles south of Westray airfield. Orkney Ferries sail from Kirkwall two or three times a day (1 hour 25 minutes), and cars must be booked. Loganair flies to the island. Use postcode KW17 2BZ for satellite navigation.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Local books and craft items are sold in the old hall. Reception also serves as the Westray information point, with advice on walks and the island.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Reception staff know the island well and can advise on walks and sights. |
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