Strathnaver Museum

26/10/2026

For our entry we have this lovely embroidered sampler was made by Christina Mackay in 1872 when she was aged just 13.

When she was 17, she left her home in Ardniskich, Bettyhill, and emigrated to America. After her marriage, Christina kept the name Mackay.

In their earliest form, samplers were put together as personal reference works for embroiderers: trials of patterns and stitches which had been copied from others, records of particular effects achieved which could be recreated again. These early examples would have been the work, not of children, but of more experienced embroiderers and some, from their quality, of professionals.

Samplers were used locally in schools to teach girls to sew and practise the different types of stitches. Only a few women would go on to pursue the art of embroidery further but this was deemed a ‘good education’ in the basics.

25/10/2026

Coming to us soon in November! 📆 👀

An exhibition in Bettyhill will celebrate four years of conservation work through art inspired by the people, plants and wildlife of the north coast.

Read more in the comments.

22/10/2026

Today is 💛

If you've enjoyed exploring the museum, learning something new or chatting with our team, we'd love you to leave us a review on Google or Tripadvisor. Your kind words help others find us and mean so much to our team.

Have you visited recently? Take a moment to share your thoughts and help spread the word about our Museum. ⭐ Thank you for supporting us and helping preserve and share our local heritage!

20/10/2026

Hands up if you love heather? 🙋‍♀💜

Known in Gaelic as fraoch, it can symbolise many things... such as good luck, protection and resilience.

Heather season runs from July - October depending on the species and weather. Take this as a reminder to come visit us then to spot beautiful carpets of purple over our moors and mountains.

"And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather,
Will ye go, lassie, go?"

19/10/2026

Explore the Species on the Edge Art Exhibition at Strathnaver Museum! 🎨

As Species on the Edge draws to a close, we're celebrating our four fabulous years on the north coast with this exhibition inspired by the people, flora, and fauna of the north coast 🌸

The exhibition brings together the work of artists and community groups who have contributed to the programme on the north coast, featuring work by stained glass artist Marta Sienkiewicz, comic illustrator Aimee Lockwood, watercolour painter Iris Hill Art & Yoga, filmmakers Laura O’Kane and Sinéad Hargan, the Sutherland Stitchers, and a herbarium produced by Tongue Gardening Group supported by Joanne B Kaar 🌱

📆 The exhibition will run from 17th to 26th November, Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm at Strathnaver Museum, Bettyhill.

We hope to see you there!

Find all the info on our upcoming events page on our website 🌐

📸 1. Exhibition poster; 2. Marta Sienkiewicz’s Species on the Edge-inspired stained glass panel (c) Eilidh Ross; 3. Watercolour workshop with Iris Hill (c) Louise Senior; 4. A sample from the north coast community herbarium – snow drop; 5. A sample from the Species on the Edge north coast comic by Aimee Lockwood; 6-7. Species on the Edge tapestry by the Sutherland Stitchers (c) Tracy Munro

15/10/2026

For this we've a personal story from a man called Bruce Thomas from New Zealand, who recently got in touch with us to share some photos, memories and information about his father Ray Thomas. 🇳🇿

Bruce was born in 1949 and always asked his father as he got older, what he did in the war… Ray Thomas was in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was a Radar Technician stationed at Sango during World War Two. He did his training in Canada first and then was sent to the UK and spent the whole period between 1939 to 1945 in the UK. Ray then returned to NZ when the war ended.

Bruce’s sister sent him some photos taken by his father when he was at Sango. The landscape photo shows all the Radar towers and buildings. Bruce was surprised that some of the buildings are still there… The other photo includes Ray himself when he was on leave in London. He is on the right.

Bruce knew his father travelled around many of the Radar Stations and remembers him talking a lot about being at Sango, that he was stationed there for a reasonable amount of time and his main memory being he got to see 'The Glen Miller Band'.
Bruce’s father and mother have passed away now so these photos are very precious and an important connection to this part of their past.

Was Ray the only Kiwi at Sango during the war? 🤔

14/10/2026

We're thrilled to share that we'll be hosting the Species on the Edge art exhibition at the end of November 2026 here at Strathnaver Museum! 🏛️🎨🐝

Put the dates and times in your diary and make a plan to come visit us to see it. 📅

Keep an eye on our socials for more information in the coming weeks. 👀 Species on the Edge

12/10/2026

Can you help us with a recent genealogical request? 👪🌳

We are trying to find any living descendants of Alexander and Johan Mackay who lived at Sangobeg in Durness in the early 1900s.
Alexander Mackay (born c1850- died 1913) Johan (nee Mackay) (born c1856 -died 1919).
Issue:
John Pope Mackay, born 1880.
Jessie Mackay, born 1884.
Redpathina Mackay, born 1889.
George Mackay, born 1899.
Johan Mackay, born 1899.
In the 1901 census a nephew, James Mennie born in 1890, was living with the family.

If you are related to any of these people and wish to make contact with Susan from New Zealand or know of them please contact us here at Strathnaver Museum via [email protected] or [email protected] 📧

Thank you in advance and feel free to share far and wide!

11/10/2026

Have you explored the Highland Pictish Trail yet? Other than The Farr Stone located on our site, there are others nearby that you could seek out whilst on a visit to us... like The Red Priest’s Stone or Clach an t-Sagairt Ruaidh. 🟥✝️🪨

This is a stone with a cross deeply incised on its northern face. Perhaps not that much to look at but it is associated with Maol Ruadh – the Red Priest (St Maelrubha), an early Christian missionary from Ireland – who died in 722AD and who is said to have established a chapel at Skail. It is linked with various stories giving fascinating glimpses into the history of Strathnaver and the wider area.

For instance, one story says that the Church of St Columba at Bettyhill (now our main museum building) was built with stones from a ruined chapel at Skail. It would have required huge effort to carry the stones on foot for more than twelve miles, and, if the tale is true, it suggests that the chapel of the Red Priest at Skail was a place of great veneration.

Highland Pictish Trail website is a wonderful resource where you can see Pictish stones located on a map and any accompanying museums/heritage organisations that share the history of the Picts. Read more about The Red Priest's Stone as well as it's location and accessibility information on the Highland Pictish Trail website.

📷 Image credit: Highland Pictish Trail

08/10/2026

Our team were delighted reading this wonderful, recent review on Google about our museum. ☺️⭐
Do you have a minute to spare? If you've visited us this season then please do take the time to review us on Google or Tripadvisor and share your experiences. 💭
It really helps us attract new audiences and as an independent charity, every little helps! 🏛️