Old Haa Museum

About

Old Haa Museum in Shetland occupies a spot on Brough Rd in Burravoe, on the island of Yell, where the building sits close to the water in the south-east corner of the island. The museum draws visitors with an interest in how life has been lived on these northern isles, and it is one of the stops that rewards a slow circuit of Yell rather than a rushed pass-through.

Its reputation has built steadily, with a 4.7 out of 5 average across 152 reviews placing it among the better-regarded museums in the northern isles. The collection covers the social history of the area, and the venue also runs events through the year that bring local craft and music into the rooms. Lerwick, Scalloway, Brae, Yell, Unst, Whalsay and Bressay all sit within the wider island network, so a visit can be woven into a day that takes in more than one stop.

Opening hours run from 10:00 to 16:00 Monday to Saturday, with Sunday hours of 14:00 to 17:00 giving a later start to the day. A website at http://oldhaa.com/ carries the museum's own information, and photographs of the building and its displays are attached to the listing.

First-time visitors should plan around the weather, which on British islands is mild, wet and changeable, warmed by the Gulf Stream and often windy. Island shops and harbourside cafés sell smoked fish, island cheeses, fudge and bakery bread, so a stop for provisions fits naturally around a museum visit. Allow time for the drive north from Lerwick, and check the opening hours before setting out, as the museum keeps a shorter day than some larger sites.