The best museums Hebrides

This elegant castle on the other side of Stornoway Bay was built between 1847 and 1857 for Sir James Matheson, who then owned all of Lewis thanks to his fortune built on the Chinese opium trade. Since 2016, following an extension of the site, there is a museum on the history and culture of the Outer Hebrides. It describes its people and their relationship to the land and sea. The Gaelic approach is predominant, but the texts are also translated into English.

This small museum on the history and nature of the island is an interesting stop when the weather does not allow for outdoor activities. With two 30-minute videos, it explores the history of Mull and its people, as well as its rich and diverse biodiversity. There is also an exhibition section on the island's geology and fauna. The place also has its charming tea room, appreciated and known for its good food and homemade pastries.

If you want to vary your visits and discover the life of Islay, this small local museum is perfect. Located in an old church in Port Charlotte, it traces the history of the island with nearly 3,000 objects and a few thousand photographs, dating back 12,000 years. The museum brings together a rare collection of objects, books, photographs and stories illustrating life on Islay from prehistoric times to the present day. The Victorian and Edwardian eras are particularly well represented. The museum has its own store and library.

The small museum of Mull is a pool of information on the island's history and heritage. Its adventure began in 1970, when it was only a temporary exhibition for the summer. In 1986, it moved to its current building, still run by passionate volunteers. From the first inhabitants to recent events, including clan wars, the island's rich past is revealed to us through period objects and reconstructions. It is an interesting step to better understand the local culture and its evolution through time.

This museum gives a glimpse of what life was like in an island village on Skye in the 19th century. You enter into the everyday life of the people of the time, through their professional, social and family life. We visit a kitchen with its period utensils, violin, bagpipes and Gaelic Bible, a room with rudimentary comfort, with a straw bed, and a weaving workshop, where clothes and blankets were made. There is also the forge and the ceilidh house.

Like other museums in the Outer Hebrides, the Kildonan Museum in Kildonan focuses on reviving local history and traditions. The daily life of the crofters, the farmers of the time, is told through exhibits, black and white photographs, period objects, instruments, tools, machines and clothing, among others. There is also a café on site, as well as a shop selling local handicrafts. The café is accessible even without visiting the museum and makes an excellent refreshment point.

The Lochmaddy Museum explores the social, domestic, economic and religious history of North Uist through its people over time. Some 19th and 20th century artifacts are on display, as well as temporary exhibitions of local and international arts and crafts. The site is also a visual arts centre. Events and exhibitions are regularly scheduled. There is also a café on site, where you can eat or drink a hot drink.