About
Westray Heritage Centre, on the Orkney island of Westray, is home to two of the most significant Neolithic archaeological finds discovered anywhere in Orkney: the Westray Stone, an impressive carved stone slab found by accident in a quarry at Pierowall in 1981, and the Westray Wife, a small carved figurine widely regarded as the earliest known depiction of a human face found in Scotland, and one of the most important Neolithic artefacts uncovered in Britain in recent decades. Together these finds have given the small island of Westray a genuinely outsized significance within Neolithic archaeology, on a par with the far better-known sites of Orkney's UNESCO World Heritage-listed 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' on the Orkney mainland.
The Westray Stone, discovered accidentally in an excavated tomb during quarrying work, features carved decoration that connects it to the wider tradition of Neolithic megalithic art found across Orkney and beyond, while the Westray Wife's discovery in 2009 at the Links of Noltland archaeological site made international archaeological news given its extreme rarity as a piece of figurative Neolithic art from this period and region. Beyond these two headline artefacts, the centre presents the wider history, archaeology and genealogy of Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, covering the islands' story from prehistory through to more recent maritime, agricultural and community history.
Run by the Westray Heritage Trust, the centre plays a genuinely important role in interpreting and safeguarding the island's remarkable archaeological heritage for both visitors and the local community, and represents an excellent starting point for anyone visiting Westray with an interest in understanding the island's deep and internationally significant prehistoric past before exploring the wider landscape and ongoing archaeological sites, including the Links of Noltland, directly. Reaching Westray requires a ferry or short inter-island flight from Kirkwall, and the centre's role as both museum and community hub reflects the practical realities of sustaining heritage provision on a small, remote Orkney island.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Plan your visit around Orkney Ferries or Loganair inter-island transport schedules, since Westray is reached only by ferry or small plane.
- Confirm current opening hours before travelling, especially outside the May-September main season, when the centre is open by arrangement.
- Combine your visit with the Links of Noltland excavation site and Noltland Castle, both a short distance away.
- The Westray Wife's 2009 discovery made international archaeological news — look out for detailed interpretation explaining its significance.
- The centre is fully wheelchair accessible, being a purpose-adapted single-level building.
- There is no on-site café — bring supplies or plan to eat at the small shop or hotel in Pierowall.
- Consider timing your visit to combine with wider exploration of Westray's landscape and other Orkney islands.
Highlights
The Westray Stone
The Westray Stone, an impressive carved Neolithic stone slab discovered by accident in a quarry at Pierowall in 1981, is one of the centre's two headline archaeological finds. Its decorated surface connects it to the wider tradition of Neolithic megalithic art found across Orkney and beyond, and its accidental discovery during ordinary quarrying work is a reminder of how much significant archaeology remains to be found across the islands, often surfacing through everyday activity rather than planned excavation.
The Westray Wife
The Westray Wife, a small carved figurine discovered in 2009 at the nearby Links of Noltland archaeological site, is widely regarded as the earliest known depiction of a human face found anywhere in Scotland, and one of the most important Neolithic artefacts uncovered in Britain in recent decades. Its discovery made international archaeological news given the extreme rarity of figurative art from this period, and seeing the genuine artefact offers visitors a direct connection to a find of real national and international archaeological significance.
The Links of Noltland Excavation
The Westray Wife and related finds emerged from ongoing archaeological excavation at the Links of Noltland site on Westray, one of the most significant and long-running Neolithic excavation projects in Orkney, and the centre's displays connect the museum collection directly to this active fieldwork.
Understanding this connection between museum display and ongoing excavation gives visitors a genuine sense of archaeology as a continuing, evolving process rather than a purely historical, closed subject, with new finds still periodically emerging from the site each excavation season.
Westray's Island History and Genealogy
Beyond the headline Neolithic finds, the centre presents the wider history of Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, covering the islands' story from prehistory through to more recent maritime, agricultural and community history, including genealogical resources for visitors researching family connections to the islands.
This broader historical coverage situates the archaeological finds within the fuller sweep of the islands' human story across many millennia, of real value to the many visitors of Orcadian descent researching their own family roots.
Collections
Westray Heritage Centre's collection is anchored by two of the most significant Neolithic archaeological finds discovered anywhere in Orkney: the Westray Stone, a carved stone slab found accidentally in 1981, and the Westray Wife, a small carved figurine discovered in 2009 at the Links of Noltland excavation site and regarded as the earliest known depiction of a human face found in Scotland.
Beyond these headline artefacts, the centre presents the wider history, archaeology and genealogy of Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, spanning prehistory through to more recent maritime and agricultural community history. Run by the Westray Heritage Trust, the centre connects its museum displays directly to ongoing archaeological fieldwork at the Links of Noltland, giving visitors a genuine sense of Westray's continuing archaeological significance.
The Westray Stone and Westray Wife
The centre's headline Neolithic archaeological finds, including the Westray Stone (1981) and the Westray Wife (2009), Scotland's earliest known depiction of a human face.
Westray and Papa Westray: Island History
Displays covering the wider history, archaeology and genealogy of Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, from prehistory to recent community history.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.