The Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection) covers three floors of Fort George’s former Lieutenant Governors’ House. The museum has roughly 20,000 artefacts and an estimated 10,000 documents and photographs. The museum is the largest regimental museum in Scotland, outside of Edinburgh. Browse through the menus to feel the experience.
Opening Times
Summer 1st April - 30th September
9.30am - 4.45pm
Winter 1st October - 31st March
10.00am - 3.15pm
Closed at weekends Dec' and Jan'
Admission to the Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection) is free but you must pay an admission charge to visit Fort George.
Adult - £9.00 Concession - £7.20
Child aged 5–15 - £5.40 Under 5 - FREE
The Collection is probably the largest regimental display outside London. Founded over 60 years ago, the Museum houses more than 5,000 gallantry awards and campaign medals won by the fighting men of the Regiment, including 16 of the Regiment’s 22 Victoria Crosses. It also contains a set of Colours carried at the Battle of Waterloo, King Edward VIII’s regimental uniform as well as silver and personal artefacts carried by members of the Regiment since 1778. On the ‘darker’ side, the Museum holds a box used by Adolf Hitler for his personal papers.
Our collections also include medals and “death pennies” (WW1 memorial plaques), uniform and accoutrements, instruments and arms, pictures and paintings. We have spectacular personal items such as red woolen stockings from the 1880s and a small wooden pig which was whittled as a good luck charm for a soldier in the First World War.
In addition we have a fabulous library and archive with personal letters and diaries as well as regimental diaries, books and magazines. In the 21st century we need to safeguard our collections for the future by creating display and storage conditions that are both better for care and conservation of the items and more amenable and accessible for our visitors. We have an obligation to the soldiers who served and who still serve, to tell their stories.
Access and Facilities
In partnership with Historic Scotland, the custodians of Fort George on behalf of the Scottish Government and Ministry of Defence, this great fortification is situated approximately a mile and a half north of the village of Ardersier.
Once inside the Fort the museum is located in the North Staff Block and is Number 10 on the Historic Scotland audio guide.
The museum is spread over the three floors of the former Lieutenant Governor’s House. This means that while we have elegant high ceilings, ornate fireplaces and the sweeping staircase of the original building, we are not easily accessible by people with mobility problems. An assistant controlled stair-lift on the back stairs does offer access to the middle floor, but no such facility is afforded to the top floor as the back stairs do not extend to the upper floor. The museum is aware that this is a significant disappointment to some of our guests and has put a virtual tour of the museum on the website.
We have Museum trails available with various different themes encouraging children to explore the Museum and exhibits. Some of the display cases also have pull out information panels for children to investigate. Our handling collection which is popular with children and adults alike gives visitors the opportunity to try on kilts and other items of military uniform. The large grass area outside the Museum also makes an excellent impromtu football pitch or a lovely spot to sit down for a picnic.
The museum does not offer catering or toilet facilities. Public toilets are available at the back of the block and light catering facilities are also provided onsite by Historic Environment Scotland. Museum Staff will give directions if required.
