Museums & Galleries · Orkney
Shapinsay Heritage Centre
📍 KW17 2DX
Photo: Chris Downer (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Interactive displays and exhibits on Shapinsay's history
- Film about local boatbuilder John Robert Leslie and his wooden boats
- 2026 exhibit on boat builder Ivan Hourston
- Reopened in 2023 with a fresh new look
Shapinsay Heritage Centre tells the story of the island's people and past through interactive displays, including a film about local boatbuilder John Robert Leslie, with a 2026 exhibit focused on another boat builder, Ivan Hourston. Reopened with a fresh new look in 2023, it suits anyone curious about island life and traditional craft, and can easily be combined with a stroll around the village, the Smithy Cafe and the bird hide during a day trip. It's open Wednesday to Sunday through the summer season, closed in winter, so check timings before you travel. Set in Orkney, Scotland, within the Museums & Galleries category, it makes a good stop if you're staying nearby, with 3 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays.
Practical details
- Open
- Wednesday to Sunday during the summer season, closed in winter
- Best for
- Visitors keen to learn about local history and boatbuilding
From the attraction's own website on 26 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Bar
- ✓ Restaurant
- ✓ Cafe
- ✓ Playground
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ Picnic Area
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Shapinsay Heritage Centre
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.3 mi
2.4 mi
Kirkwall Bay Touring Park
✓ Shoreside location on Kirkwall Bay for campervans, motorhomes and caravans
Orkney
2.8 mi
2.8 mi
3.7 mi
3.7 mi
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Shapinsay Heritage Centre into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.