The Highland Folk Museum is proud to be Britain’s first open-air museum. The whole thing is set in an 80-acre site that is around 1 mile in length. We guarantee it is not like any museum you’ve been to before!
The museum aims to bring to life the history of the domestic and working conditions common to the Scottish Highlands. The museum uses a combination of actors and recreated buildings. It gives you a glimpse into how life has changed from the 1700s right through to the present day.
You can wander through the site and explore both the buildings and the objects that fill them. There is no better way to understand our ancestors than by actually touching and handling the things they did.
As well as looking and touching, you can take the opportunity to turn your hand to the activities and crafts on show.
While there is so much to hold your attention with all of the interactive displays, it’s well worth taking a step back and enjoy the whole site and the scenery it offers. The location is gorgeous. You can wander the trails and spot the red squirrels that call the spot home.
The Highland Folk Museum is easy to get to from Ravenscraig House. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there from the guest house. You just head south on the A9 and then turn off onto the A86 in Kingussie. There is a car park on-site, so parking is easy.
You have two options to get food during your visit. There is a sit-in cafe or a walk-up takeaway van. You can get a meal, snacks, or drinks from either option. There is also a traditional sweet shop to explore, which is designed to give you a feel of the 1930s.
If you bring your own food, there are plenty of picnic spots to choose from. There are also several play areas sprinkled though out the site to keep younger visitors happy.
Visiting the site is free – which is impressive for all of the displays, exhibitions and interactive activities available. However, the Highland Folk Museum welcomes donations to support the upkeep of the museum.
