Croft House Museum - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Crofthouse Museum takes visitors back to a time where life’s essentials were of a bare minimum. The property is presented in the style of how it would have looked in the 1870s. Smell the peat fire, discover the box beds and try to set the traditional Shetland mouse trap. The crofthouse also has a lovely garden.

In the Bronze and Iron Age houses at Jarlshof, visitors can see saddle querns. These hand powered mills were large versions of a pestle and mortar. Later in Shetland, small ‘Norse’ water mills with vertical axis wheels were built next to a running burn. Examples can be seen at Huxter, Burland, Mousa and at the Croft House Museum at Boddam.

The Quendale Watermill is a beautifully restored 19th century overshot watermill complete with visitor centre and hot and cold drinks facilities. It was located in a rural location with historical locations and also scenic views too. Visitors to the mill are invited to watch a short professional video of the mill, with local people operating the machinery.

Clumlie Broch is an Iron Age broch standing on the Mainland of Shetland. The broch is to be found on Dunrossness, on the southern part of the island, about five miles north of Sumburgh Airport. It stands on a low rise on flat arable ground. The broch is at the centre of an abandoned croft, which encroaches upon the ruins.

Old Scatness is an archeological site on the Ness of Burgi, parish of Dunrossness in the south end of Mainland, Shetland, near Sumburgh Airport and consists of medieval, Viking, Pictish, and Iron Age remains. It has been a settlement for thousands of years, each new generation adding buildings, and leveling off old ones. Enter Iron Age houses, learn ancient crafts and games or dress up like a Pict or Viking. Visitor centre, workshops, tours, reconstructions and events throughout the summer.

The West Voe of Sumburgh is one of the four Shetland beaches that have won a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. The beach is situated alongside the archaeological site of Jarlshof, which includes remains from the Stone Age through to medieval times. The beach is backed by marram grass sand dunes and has some spectacular views and closeby attractions.