Auchindrain Museum

Once, Scotland had thousands of “townships”, small farming communities where groups of families worked together. Then, two hundred and fifty years ago, the world began to change.

The townships were replaced by modern farms, crofting and large estates. In some places the process was known as the Highland Clearances. A few townships remained, but most of these had gone by 1900.

Auchindrain was the last to survive, until 1963. Today it is far and away the best remaining example of a type of settlement that was once typical and common, and which was very important within Scotland’s history.

The buildings, ruins and other man-made features in the landscape of Auchindrain are managed as museum objects. This means each has a unique number. This is made up of ACHDN, which is the international museum location code for Auchindrain, and either one, two or three letters, which in this case are used as though they were numbers.

Some of the buildings have names. Apart from The Bull and Wool House, which is named in a document from the early 20th century, these are the names used by the last generation of township people in the 1950s and 1960s. By then some of the buildings were out of use and ruined, and had no names still in use. These are now just known by their numbers, such as “Building Y”.

Auchindrain Museum is an extraordinary attraction, which brings an original Highland Township or farming village back to life. On entering the museum, visitors step back in time to witness how the local community lived, worked and played. The Township buildings are furnished and give a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who once lived and worked at Auchindrain.

Visitors can wander at leisure through the longhouses, barns and byres of this unique museum for a not to be forgotten taste of life in the past. Auchindrain is a unique place that lets you experience life in the past with all of your senses.