National Museum of Rural Life, Scotland

National Museums Scotland developed the National Museum of Rural Life, (previously the Museum of Scottish Country Life).

The project, opened in 2001, at a cost of over £9 million and was made possible through a partnership between the National Museums of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and a number of private funders.

The completed National Museum of Rural Life features a 50,000-square-foot (museum and visitor centre, the Georgian buildings of Wester Kittochside farm, the species-rich fields and hedgerows around it and a large events area.

A day at the Museum gives an opportunity to experience the traditional way of life as it was on the rural and partly mechanised Scottish farm of the 1950s. Ploughing, sowing, haymaking and harvesting are all carried out on this working farm. Tractor rides take visitors to the farm where they can also see the herd of pedigree Ayrshire cattle which calve from January -March being milked every day at 3.00pm and the Kittochside flock of Scottish blackface ewes which lamb in early April.

An annual programme is offered of demonstrations of country skills, workshops and ranger-guided walks. Activities are spread throughout the year, such as the heavy horse show, the tractor show, the horse shoeing competition, the sheepdog trials, Kittochside Fair, Toytrac Scotland, Christmas at the Farm, the Halloween Party, Willow Harvest, etc.

Opening Times

Daily: 10:00 - 17:00

Visit website for more information

Ticket Prices

Adult: £6.50
Concessions: £5.50
Child: £3 (under 5 free)
Family ticket: £17 for 2 adults and 2 children.

Visit website for more information

Disabled Facilities

Visit website for more information

More Information

Telephone: 0300 123 6789

Visit website for more information