A visit to the Isle of Skye Museum of Island Life provides an opportunity to learn about life on the Isle of Skye.
If you are planning a trip to explore incredible spots in Scotland and the Isle of Skye, don’t miss our suggestions for experiences to last a lifetime.
These article will help making plans to visit this incredible area: Top things to do in Isle of Skye, Scotland, Explore the enchanted Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye, Uig, Port of Call: Top things to do in Portree, Isle of Skye, Top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Best 10 Photos – Forth Bridge, the greatest man-made wonder in Scotland.
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Life on the Isle of Skye
The 19th-century Highland crofting village at the Skye Museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. Its ideal location at Kilmuir, provides sweeping views of the seaside cliffs and ocean below.
The Isle of Skye Museum of Island Life is located at Kilmuir, Scotland. This location provides sweeping views of the seaside cliffs. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
What is a croft?
A croft is a small area of enclosed land, rented or owned and used for farming purposes. It is unique to the Hebrides and other northern Islands and Highlands of Scotland.
Explore a crofting village at the Skye Museum of Life
The Skye Museum takes you back in time to discover the way life of a northern Scottish Highland village.
The museum site contains several buildings to explore.
The Blackhouse
In the 19th century, crofters and their families lived in a blackhouse. This home provided accommodation for the family at one end and animals in the other end. Crops and grains would often be stored in the house, sometimes up in the rafters.
The crofters built long, narrow single story homes out of local building materials. Rocks for wall construction came from the Scottish Highlands.
Over thousands of years, retreating glaciers left behind lots of scattered stones. Because trees are scarce on the islands, salvaged wood came from washed up driftwood or shipwrecks from the coastal shores.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr © View more photos wendynordvikcarr.com
The croft’s thatched roof was made from heather and reeds. These materials covered with rope or fishing net are secured and weighted down by large rocks along the edges.
Fine examples of how roofs are made from reeds and heather on a crofters house at the 19th-century Highland crofting village of the Isle of Skye Museum of Island Life. This style is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Fine examples of how roofs are made from reeds and heather on a crofters house at the 19th-century Highland crofting village of the Isle of Skye Museum of Island Life. This style is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Fine examples of how roofs are made from reeds and heather on a crofters house at the 19th-century Highland crofting village of the Isle of Skye Museum of Island Life. This style is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows life on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows life on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows a crofter’s life on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows a crofter’s life on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland.
This incredible 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. A croft is a small area of enclosed land used for farming purposes and is unique to northern Islands, Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr © View more photos wendynordvikcarr.com
The sturdy walls, made out of boulders, are three to four feet thick. Peat and earth filled in the gaps to help provide some insulation. The houses needed to be strong to withstand the weather and the fierce ocean gales.
Surprisingly, the floors are not dusty, even though they are made of hard-packed dirt.
Plentiful peat collected from the countryside fueled the fireplace for heat and cooking. In the evenings and on long winter days, family would gather in front of this cozy fire to tell stories, sing songs and listen to music. The music would be played on bagpipes, a fiddle or a Jew’s harp.
The Weaver’s Cottage hosts a fine display of wool-making instruments and antique spinning wheels. Some of these tools date back two hundred years. The old dye-making recipes and dye pots are also on display.
Crofting today on the Isle of Skye
The Crofting Commission Register of Crofts for 2021 indicates there are presently 21,186 crofts. Of that number, 15,137 are tenanted and 6,049 owned.
The numbers have increased from the 17,000 reported in an Independent article of almost 25 years ago. The Crofting Commission’s registry report of 2016-17, noted 20,566 active crofts.
Explore the enchanted Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, a travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW and NATJA.
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