01
Strathnaver Museum
A community museum in one of Scotland's most notorious clearance areas, giving the strongest curatorial account in this regional group.
A guide across the Highlands and Islands
The Highland Clearances: where the history survives
There is no single Clearances site because there was no single Clearance. Explore the museums, churches, townships and memorials that preserve different parts of the story.
9places
4regions
1connected history
The Highland Clearances were not one event in one place. Across roughly a century, evictions, estate reorganisation and emigration reshaped communities in different regions at different times and in different ways.
This is a national guide, not an itinerary. Sutherland, Skye, Argyll and the Outer Hebrides cannot sensibly be combined into one drive. Use the regional groups below to understand what survives where—and to build a day when your own journey brings you close.
Region 01
Sutherland: eviction, memory and resettlement
02
Croick Church
Evicted Glencalvie families sheltered in the churchyard in 1845 and scratched messages into window panes—an unusually direct physical trace of their experience.
03
Timespan, Helmsdale
A heritage centre in a coastal settlement shaped partly by families displaced towards crofting and fishing communities.
Region 02
Skye: crofting life and resistance
01
Battle of the Braes Memorial Cairn
The 1882 confrontation between crofters and police shows the land struggle continuing into organised resistance and reform.
Before you go: A small roadside cairn, plaque and bench rather than a major attraction. Single-track local road; park only where safe and do not block croft access or passing places.
02
Kilmuir & the Skye Museum of Island Life
Restored thatched cottages give physical form to the township and crofting life that clearance and later reform transformed.
Before you go: Seasonal museum, closed outside its Easter-to-late-September season. Check the official site before making a special journey. Rural A855 approach; drive carefully and allow for island conditions.
Region 03
Argyll: a cleared village and a surviving township
01
Arichonan Clearance Village
The ruins of a township cleared in 1848 after families resisted eviction—reached by a short, initially steep walk from the car park.
Before you go: The official 2.1 km waymarked trail starts across the road from the car park—take care crossing. Forestry and Land Scotland grades it strenuous: uneven grassy path, narrow or muddy sections, exposed roots and one long fairly steep slope. Allow about 1 hour. Suitable for active families with children supervised; keep dogs under effective control, especially near livestock. No facilities at the ruins.
02
Auchindrain Historic Township
A rare township that survived into the twentieth century, preserving the 'before' picture that most cleared settlements can only suggest through ruins.
Before you go: Outdoor museum with uneven grass, gravel, gradients and historic interiors; sturdy footwear and waterproof clothing are sensible. Opening may change outside the main season, so check the official site before travelling.
Region 04
Outer Hebrides: Gaelic memory and the land struggle
01
Kildonan Museum
A local museum placing clearance and emigration within the wider Gaelic and crofting history of South Uist.
Before you go: Seasonal island museum; ferry/flight connections and local public transport require advance planning. Outside the April–October season, visits are by appointment only.
02
Vatersay Raiders Memorial Crosses and Church
Memorials to men imprisoned in 1908 for occupying land, showing how the conflict over ownership continued long after the classic clearance period.
Before you go: This is a living island church and community memorial, not a conventional attraction. Visit quietly, avoid services and community events, and do not block the single-track road or local access. Island and ferry planning still applies.
Before setting out
Plan the practical parts
- Many museums in this guide are seasonal or community-run. Check official opening information close to the day you visit.
- Croick Church is historically fragile and has undergone conservation planning; confirm current access before making a special journey.
- Arichonan is an outdoor ruin with a steep initial path and no staffed visitor facilities.
- Vatersay is reached through Barra. Reaching Barra itself requires a ferry or flight, so this is part of an island journey rather than a casual mainland detour.
Useful answers
Questions about this journey
What is the best Clearances site if I can visit only one?
Choose Croick Church for a direct personal trace, Auchindrain for the clearest sense of township life, or Strathnaver Museum for the fullest single-site historical account.
Did the Clearances happen everywhere at once?
No. They unfolded across different estates and regions over many decades, with different causes, methods and levels of resistance.
Is it appropriate to visit these places?
Yes. The museums and trusts exist to preserve and share the history. At memorials, churchyards and ruined settlements, visit quietly and follow local access guidance.
Make it yours
Find the Clearances story near your journey.
Choose the region you are visiting and let Story Scotland build a realistic day from the places that belong there.
Build a Highland Clearances day →