Set amidst the beautiful grounds of Armadale Castle and Gardens sits the Museum of the Isles, your museum dedicated to discussing the famous Clan MacDonalds of the Isle of Skye. At the Museum of the Isles, you can learn about your ancestry, the history of the Isle of Skye, and so much more over an hour or two. Wrap up your tour of Armadale Castle and Gardens with one of the most informative museums in the Outer Hebrides.
Important Details to Know
Important details to know are included in this section, including Opening times, Ticket Prices, How to Get There, and other accessibility queries.
Opening Times
The Museum of the Isles at Armadale Castle and Gardens is open most of the year, although opening times may vary depending on the time of year you choose to visit. Between 13 April and 31 October, the museum is open from 9:30 until 17:00, with final entry at 16:30.
During the 1 – 30 November, the museum is open between 10:00 and 15:00.
Between 1 December and 12 April, the Museums of the Isles are closed for the holidays.
How to Get There
The Armadale Castle and Gardens, where the Museum of the Isles is located, can be found on the bountiful Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is a beautiful island in the Outer Hebrides. Still, it sits a fair distance from Scotland’s major cities so transportation options may be limited compared to the rest of Scotland’s major regions.
Car
Once you’ve driven over to the Isle of Skye from the Mainland, follow the A87 and then the A851 before Broadford. Drive down the A851 to the southern tip of Skye until you reach Armadale Castle and Gardens, then follow the signs to see the Museum of the Isles within.
Ticket Prices
Adults tickets cost £13 for entry, while child (7 – 15) tickets cost £7 and children under five enter for free. Family tickets are also available for £35 and £11 for seniors/concession.
Top Attractions to See
Armadale Castle and the nearby Museum of the Isles are enough to fill up a full day of sightseeing, from the ancient home of the Donald Clan, their stunning gardens, and the history of how they got there. If you’re interested in seeing the top attractions at the Museum of the Isles, then make sure to add these ones to the list:
Learn about Clan MacDonald
Armadale Castle, Garden & Museum are dedicated to the powerful clan that once ruled over the Isle of Skye once the Scots displaced Norse Power. At the Museum of the Isles, you can learn how this prominent clan came into power after they stripped the Norse Lords of the Outer Hebrides and the epic story they woven into Scottish culture and history.
The Museum of the Isles has interconnecting galleries that tell the story of Clan Donald and other notable players of the Western Isles, with fascinating pieces of history to bring Skye’s rich Scottish history to life. Peruse through artefacts like Flora MacDonald’s horn snuff mull, bagpipes made for Lord MacDonald in around 1880, and Jacobite glassware.
From the Clan Donald Library to the relationship between Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald, the Museum of the Isles is the place to be.
Explore the Gardens and Nature Trails
Armadale Castle and Gardens are stocked and filled with natural history that you can walk and discover. Journeying along an estate trail will offer the chance to see otters, roe deer, golden eagles, and even diving gannets!
Explore Armadale Castle
Although now a ruined castle, Armadale is a stunning place to visit. Covered in vines, the castle is slowly returning to the nature of this magical isle but is now one of the most stunning pieces of history that celebrates a Scottish dynasty.
Discover Isle of Skye’s History
From the early peoples to Clan MacDonald and the Jacobite Uprisings, the Isle of Skye is one of the most fascinating parts of Scotland’s history. Once claimed by Norse power, Scotland’s largest island has a turbulent past that visitors find fascinating.
Starting with the ancient settlers that arrived on this edge of Western Scotland, to the times of Dalriada, the Celtic Church and beyond, find out the intimate and immersing history at this award-winning museum.
More Scottish Museums to Visit
- Black Watch Museum
- Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
- Edinburgh Writers Museum
- Glasgow Science Centre
- Highland Folk Museum
- Museum of Childhood
- Museum of Edinburgh
- Museum on the Mound
- National Mining Museum
- National Museum of Flight
- National War Museum
- People’s Palace
- Riverside Museum
- Royal Yacht Britannia
- Scottish Crannog Centre
- Scottish Maritime Museum
- Shetland Museum & Archives
- St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
- Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
- Surgeons’ Hall Museum
- V&A Dundee
