Scapa Flow Museum

12/10/2026

06/10/2026

Voices from Scapa Flow

What was life really like for the people who lived and worked around Scapa Flow during the First and Second World Wars?

Scapa Flow Museum is launching a new audio project of 40 to 50 stories, each between 5 and 15 minutes long. It brings together newly recorded interviews, digitised archive sound, and readings from personal diaries and letters, some made public for the very first time.

You'll hear about:
⚓ The first British civilian killed in enemy action in WWII
⛪ The friendship between families that grew from the building of the Italian Chapel
🤿 The dangers of salvage diving on the scuttled German fleet
💍 A wartime wedding that was cancelled, then salvaged

The series launches on 14 October, the anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in 1939, and will be available on all major podcast platforms. Excerpts will also feature in four new listening stations at the museum on Hoy.

Keep an eye on our pages for future posts with details of in-person events.

Voices from Scapa Flow is produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. Delivered in partnership with The Space Arts& Museums and Heritage Highland.

05/10/2026

Our Autumn opening hours are now

Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am-4.15pm
The Museum is closed on Sunday and Monday

The cafe is open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am-3.45pm

We look forward to welcoming you over the Autumn and Winter.

04/06/2026

We’re pleased to share an update on the café at Scapa Flow Museum as we head into the summer season.

The Museum is open daily from 9:30am to 4:15pm, and we’re delighted to welcome visitors to the café Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:45pm.

Visitors can enjoy a selection of hot drinks and fantastic cakes, with plans to expand the menu over the summer.

We’re continuing to develop the café service and look forward to growing the offer over time.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you to Scapa Flow Museum!

27/05/2026

Lovely to welcome Timmy Mallett to the museum today. Thanks for coming to see us !

01/05/2026

Throughout May 2026, Scapa Flow Museum is inviting people to take part in Voices From Scapa Story Month - a month-long initiative dedicated to gathering and celebrating the lived experiences of people connected to Scapa Flow and the wider Orkney islands.

This special Story Month is a call to Orkney residents, their families, or anyone connected to the islands - past and present - to come forward with their stories from Scapa Flow.

From wartime memories, everyday life, work, businesses, or unique or quirky family events which reflect the impact of the World Wars, all contributions are welcome. The aim is to capture the rich and varied voices that reflect life across the islands, both on Hoy and beyond.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their stories - including those memories passed down through family history, so that they can become part of the story of Scapa Flow. By sharing their stories, contributors will help preserve and shape a living archive that reflects not just historical events, but the human experiences behind them.

You can submit your stories, or find out more about the project by contacting: [email protected].

Orkney Islands Council Museums and Heritage Highland The Space Arts The National Lottery Heritage Fund