The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in Strathpeffer’s Victorian railway station where trains brought visitors to the village’s in it’s heyday as a spa resort. It is surrounded by grand hotels, historic houses and wooded hills.
The museum tells the story of childhood in the Highlands looking at themes such as birth, custom and traditions, education and crofting life. There are also displays about textiles and costume, childhood treasures and toys from the past 200 years and an award-winning film, “A Century of Highland Childhood”.
Next to the museum, along the platform, is the Coffee Shop which has a reputation for fine coffees and teas, home baking. Then along at the end of the building is Embrace gift shop which sells designer gifts handmade by artists and craftspeople from the Highlands of Scotland.
The station building recently has a refurbishment to its canopy which runs along the platform. In 2016 works were completed to repair the woodwork, drainage and glazing. The station itself, a Grade B listed building, is over 135 years old and was the branch line from Dingwall. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Strathpeffer spa and pump rooms grew in popularity and the station was essential for bringing visitors from as far away as London.
Strathpeffer’s historic buildings and Victorian villas make it a charming place to explore. Castle Leod, the seat of the Earl of Cromartie, sits on the outskirts of the village and the Spa Pavilion is a popular entertainment venue.
The Highland Museum of Childhood is open from 1st April – 31st October, Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm.
