About Fossil and Heritage Centre
Discover ancient treasures and local history on Burray at this accessible museum showcasing fascinating fossils and island heritage, with wheelchair-friendly facilities throughout.
What's nearby
- The Relic Cafe next door
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Free car park
- ✓Paid car park
- ✓Free street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
- ✓Accessible toilet
Payment
- ✓Credit cards
- ✓Debit cards
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Facilities
Opening hours
- 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
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
Worth a visit. Wasn't sure at first glance but more than fossils here. Also found lots of information about scapa flow and the vessels scuttle there. Quite a few folders with archive information and the Orkey Blast news from the 1940s worth flicking carefully through. It is not free but worth an hour's stop especially if it is raining.
· via Google
Overall it is a 5 and worth the stop for the museum and shop the cafe was good,but I personally had to wait 15 mins for just a coffee!! but otherwise the staff were all pleasant.
· via Google
An unexpectedly thorough and impressive museum of fossils and local Orkney history. The focus of the fossils is on the Devonian period due to the nature of the geology of Orkney, they made ancient fish interesting! Well displayed and enjoyed using the air raid siren although creepy at the same time. Coffee shop is great too just check the time it closes. Well worth a bus trip out from Kirkwall or on the way back from St Margaret’s Hope. Bus times are erratic so we hitchhiked back to town and had a lovely chat with a friendly local.
· via Google
Lovely cafe with tasty food. Very nice gift shop with handmade items. We really enjoyed all of the aspects of the museum, the family story and their collections. Quite nice fossil collection! Well put together and curated. 👍
· via Google
Visitors say this museum offers extensive and well-displayed collections of local fossils and Orkney history, including detailed exhibits on Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers. They also highlight the delicious food, including vegan options, and the friendly staff in the attached cafe. Others mention the convenient parking and the well-stocked gift shop with local crafts.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Viewforth, Burray, KW17 2SY Get directions
- Category
- Museums & Galleries
- Guest rating
- 4.6 / 5 (417 reviews)
- Suitable for
- All Ages
- Setting
- Indoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Toilets on site
- Yes
- Destination
- The Orkney Isles