Strathnaver Museum

Strathnaver Museum stands in Bettyhill, Sutherland, in the far north of Scotland. It occupies the former parish church, built in 1774 on a site used for worship for at least a thousand years. A Pictish stone from about 850 AD and three early grave markers stand at the west gable of the building. The church became redundant in the 1950s when the congregation moved to a new building. In 1962 the Church of Scotland transferred the old church to the community for a nominal sum. The museum opened in 1976 after local people, led by historian and broadcaster Dr Ian Grimble, created a collection and adapted the building. It gained museum registration in 1994 and full accreditation in 2013. In 2021 a major refurbishment secured the future of the historic building and its contents. The work was supported by several funders and included a new annex for larger exhibits. Inside, the original pulpit from 1754–79 dominates the main room, with its panelled backboard initialled MGM for Master George Munro. The graveyard around the museum contains the tomb of Revd George Munro. The collection ranges from a Bronze Age burial beaker to early 19th century croft house displays, farming and fishing tools, militaria, Clan Mackay memorabilia and contemporary art. The museum explores the history of north west Sutherland, especially the Highland Clearances.