What's On
Click on the month you would like to visit and see what exciting events and exhibitions we have planned
January
Temporary Exhibition ...
The history of Curling
On display until 6 March
Dr Chris Robinson MBE has installed a fascinating history of Curling in Lochaber!
From its ancient origins to its modern-day popularity, you’ll be engaged and entertained viewing lots of interesting items from then and now.
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
February
Lyon & Turnball Valuation Day
Fundraising for your museum
Bring along your family treasures to be valued by the experts!
Date - Saturday 14 February
Time - 11am to 3pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
March
Community event ...
Beginners Gaelic classes
Starting 3 March 2026
Seeking a new challenge?
Come along to one of our courses to learn the basics of the Gaelic language.
The cost of the course has been subsidised by funding from Bord Na Gaidhlig.
This course is now underway but watch this space for more course later in 2026/2027
Temporary Exhibition ...
For over 100 years the Herring Girls were the backbone of the UK’s fishing industry
From 10 March - 26 April 2026
Following the Fish is a joint project run by High Life Highland’s Archive Service in partnership with Suffolk Archives, the Norfolk Record Office, and Tasglann nan Eilean (the Hebridean Archives) to capture their stories.
The exhibition showcases stories, photographs and memories captured through interviews with locals and family members of herring lassies. We will also be showcasing a brand new virtual reality experience courtesy of Timespan Museum and Open Virtual Worlds.
Entry is free but we welcome donations towards the upkeep of the museum and our future redevelopment project. Thank you …
Online talk ...
Song and Dance of the Herring Gutters
In this talk, Meg Hyland will share her research about the role music played in the lives of herring gutters in the Scottish fishing industry from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.
Meg Hyland is a PhD candidate in Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She holds an MSc in Celtic and Scottish Studies from the University of Edinburgh and an MA (Hons) Mediaeval History from the University of St Andrews.
This is a joint project run by High Life Highland’s Archive Service in partnership with Suffolk Archives, the Norfolk Record Office, and Tasglann nan Eilean (the Hebridean Archives).
Date - Tuesday 17 March
Time - 6pm UK time
Venue - Online
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
April
Community event ...
Visit the Highland Folk Museum, near Kingussie
Saturday 25th April 2026
Join us for a day at the Highland Folk Museum.
Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Am Fasgadh collections store where you can view over 15,000 objects housed over 2 floors. This will be followed by access to roam the rest of the museum for the afternoon.
The museum site covers a large area – one mile from end to end, with some uneven pathways – so please ensure you come dressed for the weather and have suitable footwear.
Coach collection/Drop off points will be in Fort William & Spean Bridge
Any questions email community@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
May
Local Author talk
The Glen Nevis Rose
We are extremely excited to have both Ewen A. Cameron and Vee Walker joining us to talk about writing their recent historical book, telling the true story of a Jacobite Highland family and the rose they carried from Glen Nevis to America in 1773.
Date - Monday 4 May
Time - 6pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
June
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
July
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
August
Visit us at the Glenfinnan Games
Saturday 15 August - Stand 15
We will again be hosting a stand at this year’s Glenfinnan Games. It’s always a fabulous day out and we would love to see you and chat about all the things happening at the museum. Come along, meet the team and see how you can support Lochaber heritage.
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
September
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
October
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
November
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
December
Children's Activities
History Haven
We have launched regular History Haven sessions at the West Highland Museum, and your children are all more than welcome to come along!
Take a fun trip back in time, with our Community and Learning Officer, to explore varied history and heritage topics on each visit.
Date - first Saturday of each month
Time - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Venue - West Highland Museum
Ongoing exhibitions
EXHIBITION
The Lost Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie
Believed to be the famous lost Highlander Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, this portrait was thought to have been painted in Scotland in 1745/6. It is on public display for the very first time since its identification by Dr Bendor Grosvenor.
ADMISSION: Free. Donations welcome
TO BOOK: No booking required
There are many ways you can help us
Support us ...
Become a Patron or Friend
Friends of the West Highland Museum is a programme designed to help support the museum in it’s aims to share our Highland culture throughout the world. By investing in membership you will be helping us in our curatorial work, the redevelopment of our museum building to make it more accessible and much, much more.
We look forward to you joining us very soon …
Volunteer with us ...
Share your spare time with your local museum
You don’t have to be a history expert to join us, you just need to have a few spare hours, a passion for supporting a local organisation and a warm welcome to share with our visitors.
Pop into the museum or contact us using the email below to have a chat about what’s involved and the exciting future plans for the museum.
Email volunteer@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk with any questions
Enjoy a guided tour for your group
Are you a group of 10 or more? Join one of our expert volunteer guides for a tour of the museum. Guided tours are subject to the availability of our guides.
ADMISSION: Contact us for group prices (under 18s free)
BOOKING essential. Email info@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk to enquire.
Scan the QR code to submit your application
Exhibitions
Museum Governance
President:
Position currently vacant following the death of Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel
Vice President:
Mrs Fiona Maclean of Ardgour
Chair of Board of Directors:
Ian Peter MacDonald
Vice Chair:
Dr Chris Robinson