The Scottish Fisheries Museum

The Scottish Fisheries Museum is well worth a visit. This fascinating museum chronicles the proud history of fishing in Scotland. It’s not a dry tale either. The museum explores the culture, the people, and the communities that were all built on the back of Scottish fishing.

When you explore the museum, you will be able to see a mixture of relics, photographs and paintings. Of course, there is the museum’s fleet of 22 boats as well. If you’re lucky, you may even see a couple of them going out for sail as they still do from time to time.

The Buildings

While the museum is home to a lot of fascinating fishing artefacts, the buildings that house them are also worthy of note. The buildings range from the 16 th to the 19 th century. The cobblestone courtyard was used in the 14 th century for locals to sell their catch.

It’s fascinating to explore the buildings because from the outside you’d never guess at the wealth of treasures they hold. The modest exterior hides the fact that the buildings are all joined up into one expansive and exciting museum.

History of The Museum

At the peak of the fishing industry’s boom in Scotland, Anstruther was one of the busiest fishing ports. When the importance of fishing began to decline, the locals wanted to hang on to the way of life they had. So, the museum was founded to preserve the heritage of fishing in Scotland.

Planning A Visit

The museum sits in the harbour in Anstruther in the East Neuk of Fife. It’s just 10 minutes south of St Andrews and easy to get to by either road or public transport. You can even walk there as it sits right on the Fife Coastal Path.

During Summer (April - October) the museum is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. In Winter (November - March), the opening times are the same Wednesday to Saturday. On Sundays, the museum opens an hour later, at 11 am.

Prices are very reasonable at £9 for adults, £7 for concessions and children going free.