About
Historylinks Museum, housed in a purpose-built Heritage Hub in the historic cathedral town of Dornoch, tells the story of Dornoch's long and varied history, from prehistoric origins through medieval religious significance to its more recent identity as a renowned golfing destination. The museum's wide-ranging collection reflects the genuine breadth of Dornoch's past, including material connected to the town's notorious history as the site of the last legal execution for witchcraft in Scotland, in 1727 — a genuinely significant, if grim, chapter of Scottish social and legal history that Historylinks addresses directly rather than glossing over, presenting it with careful historical context rather than sensationalising it.
Dornoch's more recent identity as a golfing town, centred on the historic Royal Dornoch Golf Club (founded 1877, with golf played on the links since at least the 17th century), forms another significant strand of the museum's collection, reflecting the sport's deep roots in this particular part of the Scottish Highlands and its ongoing importance to the local economy and community identity. Alongside these headline themes, the museum's collection spans the town's medieval cathedral history, connected to Dornoch Cathedral itself, and the wider social and economic history of this small but historically significant Highland town, including its role as an administrative and market centre for the surrounding Sutherland countryside across many centuries.
Housed in a purpose-built modern facility rather than a converted historic building, Historylinks offers well-presented, accessible displays covering this range of subjects, making it a good starting point for visitors wanting to understand Dornoch's history before exploring the town's historic core, including the cathedral and the wider golfing landscape, directly. For visitors interested in Scottish social history, the history of witchcraft persecution, or the history of golf, Historylinks offers a genuinely distinctive combination of subjects within a single small-town museum, and its 7-day multi-entry ticketing reflects an understanding that many visitors will want to return during a longer Dornoch stay.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- The museum is open 7 days a week, 10.30am-4pm, but only from April to late October — check current dates before a winter visit.
- Tickets are valid for 7 days, allowing multiple re-entry — useful if staying in Dornoch for a longer break.
- Combine your visit with Dornoch Cathedral and Royal Dornoch Golf Club, both a short walk away.
- The museum addresses Dornoch's 1727 witchcraft execution directly — a genuinely significant piece of Scottish social history worth taking time over.
- Golf enthusiasts should allow extra time for the Royal Dornoch Golf Club heritage displays.
- There is no on-site café, so plan to eat in Dornoch town centre before or after your visit.
- The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, being a purpose-built modern facility.
Highlights
The Last Witchcraft Execution in Scotland
The museum addresses Dornoch's notorious history as the site of the last legal execution for witchcraft in Scotland, in 1727, when Janet Horne was executed under Scotland's witchcraft laws.
This genuinely significant, if grim, chapter of Scottish social and legal history is presented directly rather than glossed over, offering visitors serious historical context on the wider witch persecution that affected Scotland over previous centuries, of which this case represents a notably late and well-documented example, occurring decades after most of Europe had abandoned witchcraft prosecutions.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club Heritage
The museum's collection includes material on Dornoch's identity as a renowned golfing destination, centred on the historic Royal Dornoch Golf Club, founded in 1877, with golf played on these particular links since at least the 17th century.
This history reflects the sport's genuinely deep roots in this specific part of the Scottish Highlands, predating golf's later global popularity by centuries, and its ongoing importance to Dornoch's local economy and community identity today, drawing golfers from around the world to play one of the sport's most celebrated traditional links courses.
Dornoch Cathedral History
The museum's collection spans the town's medieval cathedral history, connected to Dornoch Cathedral itself, a significant religious and architectural landmark that shaped the town's medieval and early modern development.
Understanding this ecclesiastical history helps visitors appreciate Dornoch's genuine historical significance well beyond its more recently developed golfing reputation, as a seat of religious authority across a wide area of the Highlands for many centuries.
Prehistoric and Early Dornoch
Displays covering Dornoch's prehistoric origins situate the town's later medieval and modern history within a much longer timeframe of human settlement in this part of Sutherland, illustrating the area's significance across many centuries before its cathedral and golfing identities developed. This deeper historical context adds real breadth to the museum's overall coverage of the town's story, drawing on archaeological finds from the surrounding coastal and inland landscape.
Collections
Historylinks Museum's collection spans the full sweep of Dornoch's history, from prehistoric origins through medieval cathedral significance to its notorious role as the site of Scotland's last legal witchcraft execution in 1727, and its more recent identity as a renowned golfing destination centred on Royal Dornoch Golf Club, founded in 1877.
Housed in a purpose-built modern Heritage Hub facility, the museum presents this genuinely wide range of subjects through well-organised, accessible displays, addressing difficult chapters of local history, including the 1727 witchcraft execution, directly rather than avoiding them.
The collection's breadth, combining social history, religious history, legal history and sporting heritage, distinguishes Historylinks from many comparably-sized small-town Highland museums.
Dornoch's Witchcraft Trial
Exhibition addressing the 1727 execution of Janet Horne, the last legal execution for witchcraft in Scotland, within the wider context of Scottish witch persecution.
Royal Dornoch: A Golfing Heritage
Displays covering the history of golf at Dornoch, centred on Royal Dornoch Golf Club, founded 1877, with links golf played here since at least the 17th century.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.