Kirbuster Farm Museum
About This Museum
Tucked away on the Orkney mainland, Kirbuster isn't just a museum; it's a portal to a way of life that stretches back over 400 years. You can almost feel the presence of the generations who lived and worked here, their stories embedded in the very stone and soot of the place. The heart of it all is the central hearth, a Neolithic-style fire that was still in use when this was a family home as late as the 1960s. Wandering through the stone-flagged rooms and out into the charming period garden, you get a profound sense of continuity and rural resilience.
Collection Highlights
The undisputed centerpiece is the stunning 'firehoose' with its central, peat-burning hearth and a simple hole in the roof for smoke to escape—a design unchanged for millennia. Don't miss the box beds built into the thick walls or the fascinating array of agricultural tools in the steading that tell the story of Orkney farming.
Visitor Information
It's located on Hundland Road in Birsay, and while it feels wonderfully remote, it's an easy drive. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, so take your time to soak it all in.
Architecture & Building
A traditional Orcadian longhouse, built from local stone with a flagstone roof, where people and animals once lived under one roof in a practical, time-honored design.
Contact & Location
Address: Kirbuster Farm Museum, Hundland Road, Birsay, Orkney Islands, Alba / Scotland, KW17 2LR, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1856 771268
Website: Visit Website
