The Scapa Flow Museum and Visitor Centre at Lyness, Hoy, presents a fascinating picture of Orkney’s role as a base for the Royal Navy during two world wars.
This free to visit museum (donations welcome) is situated in the refurbished and reimagined pump house where thousands of naval vessels were refuelled.
The displays have a few new added artefacts for 2025 including some personal small objects from many of the ratings and officers who served on vessels or were based at Scapa Flow. The personal stories are the most poignant from those who both died and survived sinkings, including HMS Royal Oak. Look out for the new acquisitions related to that vessel.
Humour is also present as ribald art work and sketches reflect that other, but very important aspect of life for the thousands serving so far from home.
The pump house is a marvel of big engineering and has informative displays on how each piece of massive machinery moved oil around its pipes.
There’s a super wee area where younger visitors can sit and draw. It also contains folders of records for visitors to look through.
Once you have gone round the museum, there’s a small retail area where you can buy a range of souvenirs, books and locally produced crafts.
The cafe serves excellent food and is very reasonable. Soups, other hot snacks, drinks and homebakes – just what you need.
The outdoor area is also good for a walk around, if time and weather allows. There’s an air raid shelter to explore, remnants of the rail tracks, and nearby the memorial to the Arctic Convoys. Lyness Naval Cemetery is a bit of a walk away but a very poignant place to visit and pay your respects to those who did not make it home.
Click here for more information: Scapa Flow Museum
Opening Times
Mar: Tues – Sat 9.30am – 4.15pm
Apr: Mon – Sat, 9.30am – 4.15pm
May – Sep 2024: Daily, 9.30am – 4.15pm
Oct – Nov 2024: Tue – Sat, 9.30am – 4.15pm,
Dec 2023: Thurs-Sat, 9.30am – 4.15pm
Jan-Feb: Closed
Fiona Grahame
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