Westray Heritage Trust
About This Museum
People don't just stumble upon Westray; they make a pilgrimage to this northern isle, and the Heritage Trust is often the first stop for anyone wanting to understand its soul. It feels less like a formal museum and more like being invited into someone's home to hear the family's most treasured stories. You'll find yourself lingering over cases of Neolithic carvings, their spirals still crisp after 5,000 years, and then be charmed by a display of more recent life, perhaps a well-worn fishing creel or a black-and-white photo of a long-gone croft. The entire place hums with a quiet pride for this community's deep roots and resilient spirit. It’s an intimate, deeply personal introduction to an island that has been shaped by both monumental history and the daily rhythms of its people.
Collection Highlights
The Westray Wife, a mesmerizing Neolithic figurine that is Scotland's oldest human representation; intricate Pictish stone carvings; and evocative artifacts from the Norse era that speak to centuries of settlement.
Visitor Information
It's housed in the old schoolhouse in Pierowall, easy to find and warmly staffed by locals who are fonts of knowledge. Check their seasonal opening times before you go, as it's run by the community.
Architecture & Building
A converted historic stone schoolhouse that gives it an unpretentious, welcoming feel—it’s a building that has served its community for generations.
Contact & Location
Address: Westray Heritage Trust Museum, B9066, Broughton, Pierowall, Orkney Islands, Alba / Scotland, KW17 2BZ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1857 609218
Website: Visit Website
