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Portmahomack · Museum
Tarbat Discovery Centre
Tarbat Discovery Centre is a small Pictish and local-history museum in Portmahomack's old church. Children aged 4–12 can dig for objects in the Stones and Bones pit, alongside a visit to the carved stones and archaeology displays. Allow one to two hours, then leave time for lunch or outdoor time in the village.
- Best for
- History-minded children; pit ages 4–12
- Cost
- Adults £7; under-18s and students free
- Weather
- Indoor museum; gravel approach outside
- Time to allow
- One to two hours
Our family take
Choose Tarbat for children who enjoy digging and stories about the Picts, or for an indoor stop during an Easter Ross day. The carved stones and monastery finds give the visit its focus. If your children mainly need running and climbing, choose a play attraction instead.
- Winter visits need an appointment. From 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, contact the centre to arrange your visit.
- The crypt has stairs. A lift serves the main museum levels, but the crypt is reached by narrow stairs. The step-free entrance route crosses gravel.
- With a baby. Plan a changing stop elsewhere, and check arrangements with the centre before travelling. The family facilities advice below dates from July 2026.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- 2026 opening
- 1 March–31 March: Monday–Saturday 1pm–4pm. 1 April–31 October: Monday–Saturday 10am–4pm; Sunday 1pm–4pm. From 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, visits are by appointment only.
- 2026 admission
- Adults £7; concessions aged 65+ and disabled visitors £5.50. Under-18s and students enter free, as does a carer accompanying a disabled visitor. Tarbat Historic Trust members enter free.
- Booking and groups
- Contact the centre for a winter appointment or to arrange a group of 8 people or more. Check separately for any activity or event you want to join.
- Children’s activities
- The Stones and Bones archaeology pit is for ages 4–12. Check with the centre if a particular activity is the reason for your visit.
- Parking and access
- There is a car park beside the museum. The main entrance is step-free across a gravel path. A lift serves all levels except the crypt, which is reached by narrow stairs.
- Toilets
- An accessible toilet is available on the ground floor. For baby changing, see the July family advice below and check before travelling.
- Address
- Tarbat Discovery Centre, Tarbatness Road, Portmahomack, Tain IV20 1YA.
8 October 2026
Visit official websiteA little more detail
Make it work for your family
What children do and who it suits
Digging and the Pictish story
The Stones and Bones pit gives children aged 4–12 a chance to dig through sand with a trowel and uncover objects linked to Pictish and medieval life. The museum also displays carved stones and finds from the early Christian monastery beneath and around the church.
The wider activities described in the centre’s July 2026 family information included stone rubbings, activity sheets, colouring, dressing up, toy swords and shields, and a sensory game. That advice suggested roughly ages 3–11 for the wider activities; the pit has its own 4–12 age range. Check what is available for your visit if one of these activities matters to your children.
Museum activities and access · Checked 8 October 2026
Who should choose it
A short museum visit suits children who are curious about archaeology or Scottish history. Allow one to two hours and keep the rest of the day flexible, especially with younger children.
Buggies, lift and crypt
The gravel approach may take more effort with small buggy wheels. Inside, a lift serves the main museum levels. The crypt is reached by narrow stairs, so a visit to every part of the museum needs more than step-free access.
The centre’s July 2026 advice was that buggies are allowed and can be left by reception. Check storage arrangements before travelling if you will need them. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Food, changing and transport
In its July 2026 family advice, the centre said there was no baby changing, café or picnic area. Plan food, drinks and a changing stop elsewhere in Portmahomack, and check arrangements with the centre if you are bringing a baby.
An accessible toilet is available on the ground floor. If you are coming by bus from Tain, check the current timetable and return journey before setting off; do not assume a daily service.
Build it into a Portmahomack day
Allow one to two hours for the museum, then use Portmahomack for lunch or outdoor time. It works as one stop in the day, with a change of pace afterwards.
The centre can also introduce the wider Easter Ross Pictish Trail. Plan other trail sites as separate stops with time to travel between them, rather than treating them all as nearby.
Booking and final checks
For an ordinary family visit, the centre’s July 2026 advice was that no booking was needed and Stones and Bones was available throughout opening. Check before relying on that advice for a particular activity. Winter visits now need an appointment, and groups of 8 or more should contact the centre in advance.
Contact the centre about parking charges or an accessible bay if either affects your visit. Check the current opening times before setting off, particularly around the change to winter appointments.
Plan the rest of your day
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