Unique, authentic, thought-provoking
Step back in time and discover Scotland’s rural history at Auchindrain, the most complete and well-preserved example of a Scottish Highland farm township. Vividly imagine life in the old Highlands as you walk through the settlement and see how ordinary people lived and worked. Step into the restored longhouses, see the objects of everyday life and learn about the past inhabitants. Explore the byres, stables and fields to understand how groups of families worked the land in common. Uncover a fascinating, long-vanished Scottish way of life deep in the hills of Argyll.
Auchindrain is six miles south of Inveraray, just an hour and a half from Glasgow.
All contributions are very gratefully received and contribute to the valuable work we do here at Auchindrain.
Explore Auchindrain
Click the button below for an online interactive tour of Auchindrain
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The name of the place is Achadh an Droighinn in Gaelic, and Auchindrain in the Scots language although until the 1950s the spelling was often Achindrain. In the past, the name was sometimes translated into English as Thornfield. Achadh is the Gaelic for “field”, and droighinn for the blackthorn or sloe tree – Prunus Spinosa. The correct pronunciation is Achan-DRYan, with a soft “ch”. Say the “a” and the “i” in the Scots language spelling as two separate letters, and you won’t be far wrong
OPENING TIMES
We are open from 1st April to 31st October, 10 am to 5 pm daily.
From November to March we are open 10 am-4 pm most weekdays, except over Christmas and New Year. When planning a winter visit, please email us at info@auchindrain.org.uk to check that we will be open when you want to come. You do not need to book in advance, but please don’t hold us responsible if you turn up without warning and the gates are closed. In the winter the Visitor Centre is closed and you take us as you find us.
In the winter the Visitor Centre is closed and you take us as you find us, but admission is at reduced rates.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adult: £8.00
Concession: £7.00
Child 5-17: £5.50
Local Residents, Friends of Auchindrain and everyone November-March: £1.00 adult, 50p concessions and children.
A 20% discount is available to up to two adults where a group includes more than one child, and to pre-booked groups of more than 20 people.
School and other educational visits must be booked and arranged in advance, so that we can provide the type and quality of service you have the right to expect.
Children under 5, carers supporting visitors with disabilities, guides and drivers, and professional members of the Museums Association, the Association of Independent Museums and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions are admitted free.
Unfortunately, we do not recognise membership cards for Historic Environment Scotland or the National Trust for Scotland.
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This is our Spike Harrow built by Harry Ferguson Ltd in the 1950's and designed to work along side our tractor, also from Ferguson. It is on its way to the agricultural engineers in Oban, for conservation.
We recently began the process of taking down and rebuilding part of The Bull and Wool House, after a storm in September 2018 damaged one corner of the building.
The Bull and Wool House was used in the early 20th century to store large hessian sacks full of clipped fleeces before they were sold, and as the byre for the township's bull. It was also a gathering place for the young people of the township - the piles of fleeces must have been comfortable and warm. Inside the building you can see many of their initials across the roof timbers and the walls. A few of the initials can be recognised such as John McCallum, although not all.
Instead of using traditional tools for writing such as paint, ink or chalk, they used 'keel', the sticky coloured paste made for marking the fleeces of sheep. By the mid-1950's, the building was being used by Eddie McCallum as byre to house young cattle.
Many thanks to Àdhamh Ó Broin: Scottish Gaelic Consultancy for a fascinating introduction to Argyll Gaelic. Now we can all greet our visitors in the way they would have been here at Auchindrain many years ago!