Hugh Miller's Birthplace NTS

Hugh Miller's Birthplace NTS Discover the life & legacy of Victorian Britain's greatest mind! 🎩

Join us for a fossil walk and discover life that once thrived in prehistoric Scotland!

Open daily, 11:00 to 15:30 Fossil hunter, folklorist, man of faith, stonemason, geologist, editor, writer and social justice campaigner – Hugh Miller was one of the great Scots of the 19th century. His quests and writings have left a huge legacy of knowledge, but as these two adjacent properties testify, he came from ordinary beginnings. The thatched cottage where Hugh was born in 1802 was built b

y Hugh’s great grandfather – a pirate! The cobbled courtyard adjoining the cottage was an external working space. Next door, the handsome Georgian villa, now an interactive museum, was built by Hugh’s father – its distinctive central spiral staircase winds around a ship’s mast. Outside, Miller’s Yard: Garden of Wonders is a sheltered corner – the perfect spot to sit and take a breath of fresh air. Support our work at Hugh Miller's Birthplace by joining the National Trust for Scotland - www.nts.org.uk/join

Calling all gardeners - we are looking for plants for our stall for Cromarty Open Gardens! 👩‍🌾We are once again thrilled...
02/06/2026

Calling all gardeners - we are looking for plants for our stall for Cromarty Open Gardens! 👩‍🌾

We are once again thrilled to be hosting the plant stall over the Cromarty Open Garden weekend; selling a wide variety of flora cultivated here in our favourite Black Isle town! If you have any plants you wish to donate to the stall, please let us know and you can drop them off during museum opening hours (11:00 to 15:30). 🪴

Did you know that all proceeds from the plant stall this year goes directly into caring for our historic buildings and funding our science educational programmes including our Fossil Walks? Anything you can do to help stock our stall with countless wonderful plants would be much appreciated! 🌷

You can find out more about Cromarty Open Gardens at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cromarty-open-gardens-tickets-1989544858228

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty

Today is not only the official start of the , it's also International Dinosaur Day! 🦖Did you know that Hugh Miller was ...
01/06/2026

Today is not only the official start of the , it's also International Dinosaur Day! 🦖

Did you know that Hugh Miller was alive when the first dinosaurs were being scientifically described? Whilst he was discovering his first ammonite and belemnite fossils on Cromarty foreshore, giant prehistoric reptiles were being announced to the world in the mid-1820s. Although Hugh Miller never found any dinosaurs fossils that we know of, the museum is proud to have a small collection of dinosaur bones! 🦴

From spinosaur teeth and triceratops frills, to a small trio of British dinosaurs donated by Wight Coast Fossils, we guarantee Hugh Miller's Birthplace is the ONLY place on the Black Isle where you are guaranteed to see real dinosaur bones! 🦕

We’re also super excited to share the news that as of today Hugh Miller’s Birthplace is open SEVEN DAYS ever week (11:00 to 15:30) until the end of August - that means you have more opportunities to see all of our amazing fossils! 🥳

Plan your visit to Hugh Miller's and see our amazing fossils today at: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace

National Trust for Scotland Scottish Geology Trust

We’ve jumped the gun and decided to start celebrating the a day early - our brand new exhibition “Re-entering the Old ...
31/05/2026

We’ve jumped the gun and decided to start celebrating the a day early - our brand new exhibition “Re-entering the Old Red” is now open! 🤘

Discover the exciting modern-day research into Cromarty’s rocks and fossils and meet the geologists who have followed in the footsteps of Hugh Miller! 🪨

We also have a brand new kids trail through the museum and cottage - can you help Hugh Miller track down the perfect birthday present for James Hutton’s (the founding father of geology) 300th birthday? 🎂

Our Geology Festival exhibit and trail are included free with museum entry. Our exhibit is running until the end of July, whilst our kids trail is running until the end of August. 🗓️

Find out more about what’s happening over the Geology Festival this year at: www.eventbrite.com/cc/scottish-geology-festival-2026-4832868

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty Scottish Geology Trust

Travel back in time in our Garden of Wonders! 🦖 This small space behind Miller House was opened in 2008, and will make y...
30/05/2026

Travel back in time in our Garden of Wonders! 🦖

This small space behind Miller House was opened in 2008, and will make you feel like you’re back in Prehistoric Scotland. From our “living fossil” ferns and our stony shellfish fossils, to our wire dragonfly and spectacular ammonite sculpture - the Garden of Wonders celebrates all of the prehistoric worlds that Hugh Miller investigated back in the mid-19th century. 🌿

Fancy seeing our Garden of Wonders yourself? Don't forget to add Cromarty Open Gardens to your calendar this June (Sat 13th and Sun 14th) where the green spaces throughout the town open up - including both our Garden of Wonders and Lydia Garden next door! 🌺

Cromarty's gardens are magical places that constantly need tender loving care. Would you be interested in helping keep these places special? We have garden volunteering roles for our two green spaces here at Hugh Miller's Birthplace that could be right up your alley! 👨‍🌾

To find out more about volunteering at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace, simply pop in and speak to us when we’re open, or click on “Hugh Miller’s Birthplace - Gardener” on our website accessible at: www.nts.org.uk/support-us/get-involved/find-a-volunteering-opportunity/volunteer-opportunities

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty

How many fossils can you see preserved in these two rocks? Plot twist - the rock itself is one big fossil! 🤯These two sp...
29/05/2026

How many fossils can you see preserved in these two rocks? Plot twist - the rock itself is one big fossil! 🤯

These two specimens were collected by Hugh Miller during his travels around England and come from the Wren's Nest - a geological locality near the town of Dudley. These rocks are around 420 million years old and were formed at the bottom of an ancient warm sea. Shellfish, crinoids, and coral remains are found throughout these two rocks, but the rock itself hold an interesting story. 🐚

These two rocks are limestone: a type of sedimentary rock made up of the fossilised remains of millions of small organisms compacted together. The organisms that make up limestone (such as shellfish, corals, and plankton) all have present in their bodies the chemical compound calcium carbonate. These make up their hard shells and structures, and also allow them to fossilise really well. Over the course of millions of years, with trillions of small calcium-rich organisms dying a sinking to the bottom of the sea, layers of calcium-rich sediment is formed which one day will turn into limestone. 🪨

Another interesting quirk of limestone is it reacts to acid. Calcium carbonate when subjected to acid breaks down and releases carbon dioxide gas. You can do this experiment yourself: take a piece of limestone (you can find them on Cromarty beach) and place a droplet of lemon juice or vinegar and it will begin to faintly fizz: this fizzing is the carbon dioxide gas being released! ☁

National Trust for Scotland

Explore Scotland's prehistoric past on a Fossil Walk! 🦖Join an experienced guide on Cromarty Beach, examine the evidence...
28/05/2026

Explore Scotland's prehistoric past on a Fossil Walk! 🦖

Join an experienced guide on Cromarty Beach, examine the evidence from the past, and discover what life was like in the highlands 385 million years ago. Walk in the footsteps of Hugh Miller to find your own fossils and take part in active ongoing scientific research! 🔍

Fossil Walks take place Fridays and Saturdays (tide dependent). Details about our walks can be found online at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fossil-walks-2026-tickets-1980370477408

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty

🗞️ Friday 27th May, 1842WHY THE NETTLE STINGS‘The common or large nettle is known by grievous experience to every one,...
27/05/2026

🗞️
Friday 27th May, 1842

WHY THE NETTLE STINGS
‘The common or large nettle is known by grievous experience to every one, though, perhaps, you have never yet inquired whence the pain arises from touching it. The sting is not like a pin or needle, solid throughout; but is hollow at the centre, and perforated at the point; and when touched, it is not only sharp enough to pierce the skin, but also is so constructed as to inject a particle of poisonous fluid into the wound it makes, and this is the source of the pain which follows.
The wound itself is so minute that it would scarcely be felt; but the poison irritates, inflamed, and causes the well-known pain alluded to. The plant, the small species
of which stings the most severely, is covered all over with hairs: but, by using a microscope or a magnifying glass, you may perceive that these are not all of one kind, some being perforated, which are the stings, while others are not. Each sting stands upon a pedestal, and this pedestal performs the office both of gland and poison-bag. It is cellular and spongy within; the sting is placed on its top, and may be moved by a light pressure to either side, or round in a circle; it seems to stand, as it were, on a universal joint. When a body touches its point, the base is pressed down into the spongy pedestal, and the poisonous fluid rushes up through the tube of the sting, and flows out of the terminal aperture.-Drummond's Letters.’

National Trust for Scotland

26/05/2026

Chat are we too late to take part in this trend? 👀

With our museum now owning an epic Instagram we’ve decided to get down with the kids - join our volunteer Colin as he takes us on a special tour catered to Gen-Z of Hugh Miller’s Birthplace! 😎

Slay 🔥

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty

Ahoy down there! Did you know we’re only one week away from the start of the ?! 📣 Starting June 1st, get ready to celeb...
25/05/2026

Ahoy down there! Did you know we’re only one week away from the start of the ?! 📣

Starting June 1st, get ready to celebrate all of the amazing geology that makes Scotland special throughout the country! Here in Cromarty, we’re getting excited over 185 years of The Old Red Sandstone with a fabulous new exhibit and fun family friendly museum trail! 🤘

Find out more about our awesome offering this summer by visiting: www.eventbrite.com/cc/scottish-geology-festival-2026-4832868

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty Scottish Geology Trust

Earlier this week we learnt we hit two incredible milestones on our social media. 📱 Over on Instagram, in just one month...
24/05/2026

Earlier this week we learnt we hit two incredible milestones on our social media. 📱

Over on Instagram, in just one month since launching our small museum has passed 100 followers and at this rate we’re well on our way to hitting our 500 milestone this year. However that pales in comparison to here on our page where we now have over 2,000 followers! 🤩

A massive thank you to everyone who’s joined us on our journey as we share the amazing life and legacy of our favourite historic individual! And if you haven’t followed us yet, why not?? 🖥️

Make sure to follow us here on Facebook and on our Instagram - available at: www.instagram.com/hughmillersbirthplacents/

National Trust for Scotland Visit Cromarty

Address

Church Street
Cromarty
IV118XA

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 11am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 11am - 3:30pm
Thursday 11am - 3:30pm
Friday 11am - 3:30pm
Saturday 11am - 3:30pm
Sunday 11am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+441381600245

Website

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/hugh-millers-birthplace-cottag

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