Hebrides People Visitor Centre

Hebrides People Visitor Centre Genealogy, Exhibitions, St Kilda Heritage, Emigration, Books, Artworks, Music Seallam! is a visitor centre in Northton in the Isle of Harris.

We have a genealogical research service - Co Leis Thu? which specialises in Western Isles family history. You can search our website database http://www.hebridespeople.com/hpapp/ to find your ancestors or if you think you have a connection to the Western Isles email [email protected]. Our exhibitions are currently on the 'Landscape and the People of the Hebrides', 'Harris Emigrants', and 'St

Kilda'. We have an extensive range of books with a particular focus on island books. We have artworks by Vega, Dudley Williams, Margarita Williams, and Jane Harlington. We also have Harris Tweed items made by Catherine Campbell and Jacqueline Akister.

Join Kenny MacLeod at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre on Saturday 20th June at 7pm for “The Civil Service… But Not As...
04/06/2026

Join Kenny MacLeod at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre on Saturday 20th June at 7pm for “The Civil Service… But Not As You Know It” — a lively evening of stories, insight, and humour from 30 years as a Customs Officer.
🎟️ Tickets £15 (refreshments included)
👉 www.hebridespeople.com

LOST CAPDid you lose your cap at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre on Monday 1st June? We’re open 10–3 Mon–Thu. (If yo...
02/06/2026

LOST CAP
Did you lose your cap at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre on Monday 1st June? We’re open 10–3 Mon–Thu.

(If you can’t make it back within our opening hours, please let us know and we can drop it off at An Clachan for you!)

☕️ Gaelic Conversation Café - Cafaidh Còmhraidh ☕️Nach tig sibh ann airson cabadaich is cupa cofaidh no teatha! Come joi...
02/06/2026

☕️ Gaelic Conversation Café - Cafaidh Còmhraidh ☕️
Nach tig sibh ann airson cabadaich is cupa cofaidh no teatha!
Come join us for coffee, tea, and a Gaelic chat!

🔵 Meeting weekly on Monday from 15 June, alternating afternoon and evening sessions. Additional summer dates will be announced soon.

🔵 All levels welcome! The 1st hour will focus on beginner & intermediate Gaelic, and the 2nd hour on intermediate to advanced. But you're welcome to drop in for any length of time, no matter your level. (Feel free to email Emily ahead of time if there's a particular topic or grammar you'd like to practice!)

🔵 £5 admission (or £20 for 5 sessions) includes a hot drink and biscuits. Fluent speakers receive free admission.

🔵 RSVP to emily @ hebridespeople.com. Meet at the Hebrides People Visitor Centre, Northton, Isle of Harris, HS3 3JA.

📣 Calling all Harris residents!We’re delighted to be hosting an information and scoping session at Visitor Centre as pa...
28/05/2026

📣 Calling all Harris residents!

We’re delighted to be hosting an information and scoping session at Visitor Centre as part of , the augmented reality archaeology app exploring sites across the Outer Hebrides.

In 2027, three new archaeological sites in Harris will be joining the app, and we’d love to hear your views on which sites should be included. If you’re interested in archaeology, heritage, and the stories of Harris, please come along and share your ideas.

📆 Monday 1st June 2026
🕖 6:30–8:00pm
📍 Hebrides People Visitor Centre

All welcome – please do share!

If you can’t make it but would still like to contribute, you can message the page or contact [email protected].

Join us next week for a free drop-in demo of the FaodailFilm Outer Hebrides Film Archive website.📍 Wed 3rd June🕙 10am–12...
26/05/2026

Join us next week for a free drop-in demo of the FaodailFilm Outer Hebrides Film Archive website.
📍 Wed 3rd June
🕙 10am–12pm
You'll be shown how to navigate the archive and search for historic film clips by collection, theme, location, date and more - a chance to explore the rich film heritage of the Outer Hebrides.

Brought up in Kyles Scalpay, Donald MacKay grew up keenly aware of the pressure too many people placed on too little lan...
24/05/2026

Brought up in Kyles Scalpay, Donald MacKay grew up keenly aware of the pressure too many people placed on too little land.

With families growing and prospects shrinking, emigration began to feel like the only alternative to a life of constant struggle.

Rejecting both city slums and dangerous mining work elsewhere, Donald and his kin set out for Canada in search of land and independence.

What they found around Georgian Bay was mixed: scattered plots, isolation and the slow loss of Gaelic community, but also opportunity for those willing to adapt.

Donald’s own path took him from farming to lumbering and, unexpectedly, into copper mining on land not unlike the rocky ground of home.

Read the full story to follow a Hearach man’s journey from crowded crofts to the forests and mines of Ontario, over on our website at www.hebridespeople.com/donald-mackay

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The Hebrides People Visitor Centre is open Monday–Thursday, 10am–3pm. Step inside to explore our exhibition on the landscape and people of the Outer Hebrides and St Kilda, browse our gift and book shop, and enjoy tea, coffee or an ice cream while you’re here.

We also run a regular programme of morning talks:
• Mon 11am – Hebridean Ancestry
• Tue 11am – Gaelic Tasting
• Thurs 11am – Introduction to Harris Tweed

Book your tickets on our website or come come along on the day.

Thàinig Brèagha an cù a chèilidh oirnn aig an Ionad an-diugh airson an taisbeanadh beag againn aig 11m! ❤️🐾 An-diugh bha...
18/05/2026

Thàinig Brèagha an cù a chèilidh oirnn aig an Ionad an-diugh airson an taisbeanadh beag againn aig 11m! ❤️🐾 An-diugh bha Emily a’ bruidhinn mun a’ Ghàidhlig, ach mar as àbhaist bhiodh Aonghas a-staigh Diluain a’ bruidhinn mu shloinntearachd. Bidh Emily ann a-rithist aig 11m Dimàirt, agus 11m Diardaoin bidh Becca a’ bruidhinn mu chlò na Hearadh!

Breagh the dog came to visit us at the Centre today for the 11am presentation! ❤️🐾 Emily was speaking about Gaelic today; normally Aonghas would be in on Mondays talking about genealogy. Emily will be in again at 11am Tuesday speaking about Gaelic as usual, and at 11am Thursday Becca will be speaking about Harris tweed!

🎞 FAODAIL | FOUND – Outer Hebrides Film Archive Free Drop‑In Website Demonstration 📍 Hebrides People Visitor Centre, N...
18/05/2026

🎞 FAODAIL | FOUND – Outer Hebrides Film Archive
Free Drop‑In Website Demonstration
📍 Hebrides People Visitor Centre, Northton
🗓 Wednesday 3 June · 11 am – 1 pm

Join us to explore the new FAODAIL | FOUND website — showcasing over 24 hours of 8 mm archive film footage from across the Outer Hebrides and beyond.
Discover different ways to navigate and search the archive by year or decade, map location, or collection, and explore themes of family life, work, education, crofting, travel, and tourism.

Drop in anytime between 11 am and 1 pm to see how this fascinating bilingual archive brings island history to life.


FaodailFilm

Our regular programme of weekly talks continues every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11am, celebrating Hebridean herit...
17/05/2026

Our regular programme of weekly talks continues every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11am, celebrating Hebridean heritage, language, and craft.

This week (beginning Monday 18th May) Angus is taking a much‑deserved holiday, so there will be no Hebridean Ancestry talk on Monday. Instead, Emily will lead a Gaelic Taster session, offering a relaxed introduction to the Gaelic language of Harris.

On Tuesday at 11am, Emily returns for her regular Gaelic Taster, exploring words, phrases, and local culture.

On Wednesday at 12 noon, we’re delighted to welcome poet John Killick for the launch and informal reading of his latest work, Hebridean Sequence — inspired by the landscapes and communities of Lewis and Harris.

On Thursday at 11am, Becca will host her Introduction to Harris Tweed talk and demonstration. Please note that the centre will close slightly earlier, at 2pm.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Visitor Centre!

Every village in the Outer Hebrides holds a thousand stories, often best told by those who lived there. Through memory, ...
15/05/2026

Every village in the Outer Hebrides holds a thousand stories, often best told by those who lived there. Through memory, place and everyday detail, these voices bring township histories to life in ways maps and records never can.

Ahmore in North Uist’s story is one of clearance, loss and quiet renewal. Once part of the tack of Orinsay, the township was gradually emptied as land was taken for sheep, leaving only ruins and fading memories of those who lived there before.

It was not until 1924 that Ahmore was broken back into crofts, allowing families to return and rebuild. For those born there, the place was small and intimate: just a handful of houses, scattered ruins, and strong family ties rooted in both Ahmore and neighbouring townships.

Daily life revolved around hard work, long walks to Trumisgarry School at Clachan, and a shared childhood of learning, games and community. Ahmore may have been modest in size, but it carried a deep sense of belonging.

Read the full story and explore the histories of other island villages over on our website www.hebridespeople.com.

Address

An Taobh Tuath (Northton), Isle Of Harris
Harris
HS33JA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

01859520258

Website

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