Skye Museum of Island Life
Skye Museum of Island Life
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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  • therealmcgaughey
    101 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Serious Place. Don't Bring Little Kids or Dogs!
    Way more than just wax figures here! Everything is authentic and well-preserved. But, this is a reading-intensive museum. It is not full of colorful, fun, interactive exhibits. Here is definitely NOT a fit for little kids. Also not a place for dogs, says this dog lover! Everything is kind of cramped and dark. Informative, though, for sure. I learned a TON about the highland clearances here, for instance. Also, more crowded than I would have expected for it being a serious history exhibit. I would steer clear if you have kids with you or you're not a history nerd.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 24 January 2024
  • ladawncp
    Windsor, United Kingdom408 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating
    A fabulous museum filled with nuggets of information and precious pieces of history. It was very well organised. There were lots of people so we had to be patient when trying to read about what we were seeing but I didn’t mind as it added to the time we spent looking at the surrounding landscape. Highly recommend.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 13 May 2024
  • mikejudy
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jewel in the North of Skye.
    Hidden Jewel on Skye. Such a great wee museum with real authenticity with real black house buildings. A wee taste of the not too distant pass. Fantastic local staff , so friendly and helpful. Great wee shop and a fantastic wee take away tea/coffee shop with local home baking. Always so welcoming and friendly.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 15 July 2024
  • Seán T
    Wythall, United Kingdom23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Discover how Syke residents used to live in the days before modern comforts
    As a social historian, this place really ticked a number of boxes for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail contained within each building, alongside the artefacts that allowed me to see and better understand the everyday life of the people who used to live in this environment. I appreciate having lots of information to read and process whereas others may prefer a more interactive experience. I must admit I was in total awe of the hardy souls that used to work these lands, their levels of resourcefulness and their capacity to survive and thrive in a tough landscape. What really struck me was the undoubted sense of community that must have existed. All in all a great way to spend some time whilst in Skye.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 July 2024
  • Alice
    Leeds, United Kingdom23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating little museum
    Fascinating museum with lots of intresting information about living on skye. Not massive, but definitely worth a visit. There’s quite a bit of reading in some of the rooms, but lots of interesting things to look at, and a lovely view. Nice little gift shop as well!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 11 August 2024
  • MARK B
    Muscatine, Iowa95 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Showing life as it was on the island
    This was a living history type museum showing how ordinary people I’ve in their houses with thatched roofs. The various tradespeople such as blacksmith, etc. I was told some folks lived like this until the 1950s. It was a tough life. Well worth the stop and great for the kids.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles689 reviews
Excellent
389
Very good
230
Average
58
Poor
5
Terrible
7

Sarah
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
I must say, I am shocked by the number of "excellent" reviews posted here. I don't like to criticize anything that seems like an earnest endeavour: this Museum falls into that category. However, I feel like I must be critical so prospective tourists aren't disappointed, like my brother and I were.

The museum has a surfeit of information and they are poor at sharing it. For example, one cottage is lined by huge information boards filled with dense writing. My brother and I are history buffs, big readers, and interested in minute details. It's impossible to really gain anything from these information boards, which are repetitive, contradictory, and exhausting to read. I walked away upset because I wanted to learn the information and it was impossible.

Then, bizarrely, the cottages that display artefacts and objects from everyday "Island Life" have virtually no information whatsoever.

We were very excited to visit this museum. We left the museum extremely disappointed and still talk about our negative experience. If you're interested in learning about crofting, find another way to do so.
Written 24 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NigelBN
8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Authentic stone and thatch huts house different 'rooms' such as living areas, forge, etc. Each is packed with memorabilia and exhibits which could tell many a story. There are information boards in each hut. I'm not a great museum visitor - I glaze over and truly rarely take things in or grasp the reality of what is being illustrated. For me, I like a real person telling me and bringing it to life; and that's virtually every museum I've ever been to. So, I tend to skim through fairly quickly. But if you like absorbing atmosphere as you read and examine what is here, you could spend hours here. No catering, but I think I recollect that it does have toilets.
Written 23 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie B
Thornton Cleveleys, UK16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
What a wonderful museum and to think we almost missed it on a wild, wet and windy drive around the Trotternish Peninsular. I'm so glad we drove back to it. It is the story of life on a Croft ( Agricultural landholding) from over 100 years ago with each thatched cottage laid out as it would have been then. The Croft house with a bedroom and kitchen, a barn, a weavers house and others. The "crofters" made the best of what they had and this museum depicts what a hard life they would have endured. Lots of informative pieces of history of life on Skye in the 19th century and earlier. Entry was £5 and we spent over an hour there. Well worth the money. There is also a small gift shop with very reasonable prices.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah H
San Diego, CA9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
My husband and I loved our visit to the Skye Museum of Island Life. We spent a few hours looking at each cottage and found something for the both of us - war history for him and daily life and experiences living in Skye for me. Each cottage was full of items to look at and were staged wonderfully. The staff were very sweet and the visit was extremely affordable. We grabbed drinks and an amazing vegan brownie at the coffee shop on site and picked up the cutest highland cow ornament for our Christmas tree. We were so glad we stopped by during our trip to the Isle of Skye and would recommend to anyone visiting who wants to find out more about the people who called this island home.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angus
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
Great insight into the past on the Isle. Each cottage tells a story and the information is very good. Stepping into the cottages gives the the feeling of just how the people lived. The views over the land and to the sea are fantastic. Great admission price and well worth the drive to visit.
Written 30 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ammi Dhaliwal
8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We went during Covid so the place was closed, however that didn't stop us stopping by and taking some lovely pics of the historic homes. I can see how the place would be very interesting and would visit again. The part of the Island the museum is in is gorgeous and the light is stunning. You do feel as if you are on top of the world - it's windy so hats off!
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DavyP
20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
What a little gem of a museum. Great displays and highly informative on the history of Skye and the hardships endured by crofters. The displays in the houses are well labelled with clear explinations. Definitely worth a visit even if it is just to hear the wonderful receptionist speak her native Gaelic tongue.
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Camper04307448602
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
There are old cottages with some historic items and panels with description…i recommend to take time and read it, you will learn a lot. And there are some fun facts. Coffee place was open, with nice view from the bench in front of it. And I finally saw some of the Scottish cows which are on all the souvenirs. They have two of them there!
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MARK B
Muscatine, IA95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
This was a living history type museum showing how ordinary people I’ve in their houses with thatched roofs. The various tradespeople such as blacksmith, etc. I was told some folks lived like this until the 1950s. It was a tough life. Well worth the stop and great for the kids.
Written 1 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ELIZABETH B
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
The museum itself is great for all the family and I have visited many times but today I tried the Deli/Takeaway for the first time. Fresh brioche baguettes, lovely cakes and excellent coffee. Polite and efficient staff even under lunchtime pressure. I will be back very soon.
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SKYE MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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