Museum of Scottish Lighthouses   (Fraserburgh)                   1.37   TA

Lighthouse Museum Website

Historic Scotland

The Museum consists of the first lighthouse built on mainland Scotland and a purpose-built museum with displays of glass lenses, lighting technology and

social history artefacts covering the lives of the men and families who guarded Scotland’s coastline for over two hundred years.  I personally wasn’t much bothered about all the technical stuff on lenses, but the guided tour of the

Kinnaird Head Lighthouse (converted from the sixteenth century castle keep

in 1787) by a former lighthouseman was absolutely fascinating – some years

ago, so don’t know if he’s still there to impart his first hand knowledge.  Café.

Opening times:

November to 24th March: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 until 4.30 pm

            45 minute tours at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm

25th March to 31st October: daily from 10.00 until 5.00 pm

           45 minute tours at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm

01346 511 022

While you're here, visit the neighbouring Fraserburgh Heritage Centre   TA

Fraserburgh Heritage Centre Website

I found this a fascinating museum – don’t miss it if you happen to visit the neighbouring Lighthouse Museum or anywhere else in Fraserburgh.  Nothing particularly unusual about the content, much as you’d expect from any local heritage museum, but the enthusiasm of the volunteers from the Fraserburgh Heritage Society who run and man it lift it well above the average, and it fully deserves all the awards that it has received.

Closed for the winter - reopens 1st April

Probably open daily from April to the end of October

2017 opening times were 11.00 until 4.00 pm (except Sundays 12.00 to 4.00)

01346 512 888

Also in town is Maggie's Hoosie - restored to represent the life of the fisherwoman who lived there - picture earthen floors, no electricity or running water and four walls that have seen a lot of work - preparing and baiting fishing lines, curing, smoking, salting and drying fish.

26 Shore Street

Open from 20th July until the end of August on Monday to Thursday from 2.00 until 4.00 pm, but phone before you go to check that it is open - 01346 514 761.

If you're going to Fraserburgh on the A98, think about coming back along the coast route and having a look at the villages of Pennan, Crovie and Gardenstown.  The first two are built at the foot of cliffs right by the sea: Gardenstown started that way, but the slope up from the sea isn't as severe, and the houses have spread up the hill.

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for Pennan     

Bing Images of Pennan

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for Crovie

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for Gardenstown

Bing Images for Gardenstown

There was a landslip in Gardenstown in 2017 - so access is only by foot at the moment.

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Littles Treasures Toy Museum  (Banff)                                     1.08   TA

Museum Website

Bing Images for the Museum

Emily Innes opened up her Little Treasures Shop in 1990 to sell Dolls Houses

and everything to go with them.  The Shop is fascinating enough, but then she bought a dolls house for herself and started collecting – she now has a

museum with 350 dolls houses, mostly furnished, with some dating back well

into the nineteenth century. There are also model farms, forts, garages etc

along with lots of dolls and other figures, model cars and other old toys.   Even

if you don’t think you’d be interested in dolls houses, this is well worth a visit

if you are in the area – it will bring back lots of memories.  More likely to be

of interest to adults than children!

Originally located near Kemnay, they moved to the former Wesleyan Chapel in Seafield Street, Banff in March 2019

Opening times:

April to October: Wednesday to Sunday 10.00 to 4.30 pm

                                  last entry 4.00 pm

Telephone: 01261 390 391 

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Grampian Transport Museum  (Alford)                                   1.04   TA

Museum Website

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for the Museum

Bing Images of the Museum

There are lots of interesting vehicles to look at here, but the real focus is on their role in the history of travel and transport in the North East of Scotland.  You can climb aboard many of the vehicles, and there are displays, working exhibits and DVD presentations.

Make sure that you see the Mortier Dance Organ working - a magnificent structure that was transported around the country to provide music at temporary venues

Video of the organ playing

Bing Images of the Organ

No details about opening times at time of review - please check their website

01975 562 292

You'll also find lots of tractors in the Alford Heritage Museum along with agricultural implements and displays of life in the area.  TA

Heritage Museum Website

01975 562 906

The following website gives information about Alford

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for Alford

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Aberdeen Art Gallery                                                

Aberdeen Art Gallery Website

An excellent collection of 19th and 20th century art with a strong representation of Scottish artists as well as works by Landseer, Turner, Millais, Lowry, Monet, Renoir, Lautrec, etc.  James Guthrie's "To Pastures New" (with the geese) is here.

Not to be missed if you are in Aberdeen.  You can view the collection on their website, but be aware that not everything is on display.

Currently closed for redevelopment, which has overrun by a year - so probably not open at all in 2018 and perhaps some of 2019.

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Aberdeen Treasure Hub                                                 

Aberdeen Treasure Trove Website

Gordon Highlanders Museum   (Aberdeen)                              1.34   TA

Museum Website

Housed in the former home of Sir George Reid, a prominent nineteenth century artist and portrait painter. As well as all the maps, models, flags, uniforms, medals and weapons you’d expect to see, the museum highlights the real life experiences of the men who served in this famous regiment with a collection of personal testimonies back through the 200 years of its existence.

The Museum creates a new exhibit each year to encourage people to make return visits.

Even if you're not that bothered with militaria, this place is worth visiting just for the atmosphere created by the volunteer staff.

The Tea Room is excellent - good food, bright and friendly

The gardens are also worth a visit - beautifully tended, unfussy and relaxed but also a very moving place with plantings dedicated to former soldiers and their families.

Opening times

6th February to 1st December

Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 until 4.30 pm

01224 319 323

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Aberdeen Maritime Museum  (Aberdeen)                                 1.38   TA

Webpage for Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Undiscovered Scotland Webpage for The Maritime Museum

The Museum is housed in an interesting series of linked buildings - a sixteenth century townhouse and a nineteenth century church linked by a modern construction in steel and glass that makes room for a nine metre high model of the Murchison Oil Platform.  In addition to all the displays about the port's history and trading, shipbuilding, fishing, the environment, etc, there are lots of fascinating exhibits covering the North Sea oil industry.

Cafe

Opening Times:

Monday to Saturday from 10.00 until 5.00 pm

Sundays from 12.00 until 3.00 pm

01224 337 700

Other places of interest run by Aberdeen City Council include

Provost Skene's House   TA

Webpage for Provost Skene's House

A 16th century townhouse containing a series of rooms furnished to reflect life in earlier times - a suite of 17th century rooms, a Regency Parlour and an Edwardian Nursery.

Currently closed during redevelopment of Marischal Square

The Tolbooth  TA

Webpage for the Tolbooth Museum

One of the oldest buildings in Aberdeen and one of the best preserved 17th century Scottish gaols.  The museum focuses on the history of crime and punishment within the city.

Opening Times:

Monday to Saturday from 10.00 until 5.00 pm

Sundays from 12.00 until 3.00 pm

01224 621 167

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