Venture North: Tourist Information for Caithness & Sutherland
  • Discovery
  • Taste North
  • Map
  • Heritage Map
  • Explore
    • Itineraries
    • Tourism Map
    • North Coast 500
    • Getting Here
    • Year of Stories 2022
  • Plan your stay
    • Accommodation
    • Cafes & Restaurants
    • Tours & activities
    • Visitor Attractions
    • Local Produce & Shopping
  • Things to do
    • History & Heritage
    • Activities & Sports
    • Flora & Fauna
    • Wildlife & Birds
    • Walking & Cycling
    • Nature & Outdoors
  • Area Guides
    • Caithness North
    • Caithness East
    • East Sutherland
    • Central Sutherland
    • North West Sutherland
    • North Sutherland
  • What's On
  • Blogs
  • Explore
    • Itineraries
      • Space to Just be
      • Space to Adventure
      • Space to Discover
      • Space to Enjoy
      • North Highland Romantic Getaways
      • Far North Food & Drink
      • Hidden Gems - Top 5's
      • Golf the Far North
      • Cycling in the Far North
      • Adventure Activities
      • Luxury Stays
      • Wick Away-Day: History and Heritage
      • Wick Away-Day: Seascapes and Royalty
      • Wick Away-Day: Wildlife and Whisky
      • Wick/Caithness multi-day itinerary
    • Tourism Map
    • North Coast 500
    • Getting Here
    • Year of Stories 2022
      • Caithness and Sutherland Stories
      • Storytellers
      • Events
      • Heritage Centres
      • More resources
  • Plan your stay
    • Accommodation
      • Oldshoremore Retreats Self-Catering
      • Oldshoremore Croft Cabins
      • Birkenshaw at Fiddler's Green Highlands
      • Ulbster Arms Hotel
      • Ferry View Campsite
      • Dornoch Station
      • Glenmorangie House
      • The Pentland Hotel
      • House of the Northern Gate - a baronial, coastal Highlands estate
      • Newton Lodge
      • Helmsdale Station CIC
      • The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, Noss Head
      • Highland Luxury Cottages
      • The Granary Lodge
      • Royal Golf Apartments
      • Links Apartments and Links View Villas
      • Ceol Mor Highland Lodges
      • Forse of Nature
      • Tongue Hotel
      • The Crofter's Snug
      • Castletown Hotel
      • Kylesku Hotel
      • Mackays Hotel
      • The Norseman Hotel
      • Royal Marine Hotel
      • Royal Golf Hotel
      • Thurso Bay Holidays
      • Caithness View Luxury Farm Lodges
      • Thrumster House
      • North Highland Holidays
      • The Halladale & North Coast Touring Park
      • Dunnet Bay Accommodation
      • Harrow Cottages
      • Ardgay Glamping Pods
      • Eddrachilles Hotel
      • Apartment 65B, Thurso
      • Munro House / Croft 148 3 Bed Caravan / Campervan Parking
      • 18 The Meadows, Dornoch
      • Migdale Heights
      • Aurora Bed and Breakfast, Murkle, Thurso
      • Dunnet Head Lighthouse
      • John O Groats Caravan and Camping Site
      • Northern Sands Hotel
    • Cafes & Restaurants
      • The Curing Yard Restaurant
      • Megan Boyd Bar
      • Cafe Groats
      • The Golden Gorse
      • Ulbster Arms Hotel
      • No. 1 Bistro
      • Mr C's Bar
      • CC Chocolatier
      • Mr Eddy's @ Ferry View
      • Crenshaw's Brasserie
      • Kylesku Restaurant
      • Varrich Restaurant & Brass Tap Bar
    • Tours & activities
      • Royal Dornoch Golf Club
      • Above and Beyond Tours
      • Sutherland Adventure Company
      • North Coast Watersports
      • NORTH POINT DISTILLERY & DALCLAGIE HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
      • Schottland fuer Alle - Travel for people with and without disabilities
      • Lichen Caithness Reindeer Centre
      • A Highland Blend
      • Connell Outdoor Pursuits
      • Konstantina Pateraki: Fine Scottish Jewellery
      • Caithness Seacoast Ltd
      • 42Cycling
      • 8 Doors Distillery
      • A Far North Naturalist
      • Assynt Fly Fishing
      • RobbieMac Tours & Ancestry Services
    • Visitor Attractions
      • Dunbeath Heritage Trust
      • North Coast Visitor Centre
      • Waterlines
      • Castletown Heritage Centre
      • Lyth Arts Centre
      • Strathnaver Museum
      • Timespan
      • Dunrobin Castle
      • Heritage App
      • Castle Of Mey
      • Dunnet Bay Distillery
      • Lairg and District Learning Centre
      • Halkirk Heritage & Vintage Motor Centre
      • Wick Heritage Museum
      • Wick Harbour Authority
      • Smoo Cave
      • Duncansby Stacks
      • Whaligoe Steps
      • The Flow Country
      • Camster Cairns
      • Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
      • Yarrows Archeaological Trail
      • Handa Island
      • Thrumster Station
    • Local Produce & Shopping
      • Marks & Pencils
      • Jail Dornoch
      • Aspire HLTC Ltd
      • Patricia Niemann Design
      • Caithness Summer Fruits
      • Winston the Bear
      • Caithness Chamber of Commerce
      • 8 Doors Distillery
      • Bin Ends Wick
      • Bin Ends Thurso
      • Hugo Ross, Fishing Tackle Specialists
      • Caithness Furniture
      • Ice and Fire Distillery, Caithness
      • Biron's Ironmongers
      • Lindsey Gallacher Jewellery and Art
  • Things to do
    • History & Heritage
      • Archaeology
      • Castles
    • Activities & Sports
      • Golf
      • Surfing
      • Fishing
      • Scuba Diving
      • Paddlesport
    • Flora & Fauna
      • Flora & Fauna
    • Wildlife & Birds
      • Bird Watching
      • Wildlife
    • Walking & Cycling
      • Mountain Biking
      • Cycling
      • Hiking and Walking
    • Nature & Outdoors
      • Beaches
      • Aurora Borealis
      • Special Sites
      • Dark Skies
      • Waterfalls
      • Mountains
      • Coastal Features
      • Islands
  • Area Guides
    • Caithness North
      • Canisbay
      • Castletown
      • Duncansby
      • Dunnet
      • Halkirk
      • John O’Groats
      • Lyth
      • Mey
      • Stroma
      • Thurso
    • Caithness East
      • Berriedale
      • Dunbeath
      • Keiss
      • Latheron
      • Lybster
      • Reiss
      • Thrumster
      • Ulbster
      • Watten
      • Wick
    • East Sutherland
      • Brora
      • Dornoch
      • Golspie
      • Helmsdale
      • Kildonan
    • Central Sutherland
      • Altnaharra
      • Bonar Bridge
      • Ardgay
      • Lairg
      • Rogart
      • Rosehall
    • North West Sutherland
      • Durness
      • Cape Wrath
      • Elphin
      • Kinlochbervie
      • Kylesku
      • Lochinver
      • Scourie
    • North Sutherland
      • Bettyhill
      • Forsinard
      • Melness
      • Melvich
      • Strathy
      • Tongue
  • What's On
  • Blogs
  • Discovery
  • Taste North
  • Map
  • Home
  • Plan your stay
  • Visitor Attractions
  • Timespan

Timespan

Timespan is an award-winning museum and cultural development organisation which provides a unique experience for locals and visitors alike. Rooted in the village of Helmsdale, Timespan explores the history, heritage and landscape of its distinctive, rural location.

The museum is a starting point on a journey through these themes. It combines a wealth of information about some of Sutherland’s more turbulent historical events, such as the Highland Clearances, with a varied collection of artefacts spanning thousands of years. Domestic objects are contextualised in the reconstructed croft, byre, smithy and shop, where the local way of life is presented as it was 150 years ago. Visitors can also travel back in time to 1813, where, with the use of innovative, immersive, virtual world technology, you can walk (or fly!) around the pre-clearances township of Caen and enter authentic recreations of the original longhouses and outbuildings based on a recent excavation.

Timespan extends beyond the boundaries of the museum walls. The newly-developed, multi-platform Clearance Trail App features an interactive trip along the beautiful Strath of Kildonan, where both virtual and actual users can retrace the arduous, historic journey made by many Highlanders. For those with further interest in local history, the archive is a valuable resource and is open to all. Different heritage themes are investigated yearly, and shared publicly through a range of talks, walks and activities.

Timespan aims to encourage creativity, collaboration and communication in the Far North of Scotland, one of the most remote areas of Europe. It supports local, national and international artists through a continuously evolving programme of exhibitions and residencies, through the microsite Artlands North, an interactive map of studios, artworks and galleries in the Northern Highlands and Islands, Timespan showcases the creative landscape of the Far North and connects local artists and makers to a global, digital audience. Our gallery provides the only public showcase for contemporary art in Sutherland. Through a series of events, workshops, discussions and films, Timespan encourages a rigorous, inspiring discourse around the works displayed. Everyone is invited and welcome to participate.

Timespan has a picturesque Riverside Café overlooking the Helmsdale River and a sheltered, sunny, terraced community herb garden. Local types of stone feature in the Geology garden, with nearby outdoor seating for alfresco afternoon teas, coffees and light lunches. Timespan’s shop sells books, cards and prints and has many beautiful gift ideas, sourced from local artisans.

Timespan is fully accessible by wheelchair. Staff are always available to help visitors. Inside the building there is a lift to reach the first floor gallery space. There is an induction loop throughout the building for the hard of hearing.

Museum Admission: Adults £4 | Concessions £3.00 | Children £2.00 | Family tickets £10.00

Opening Hours

Opening hours April - October

10am - 5pm (Everyday)

Opening hours - November to March

2pm - 4pm (Tuesday)
10am - 3pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Contact Us
Indicates required field
Timespan
Timespan
Dunrobin Street
Helmsdale
Sutherland
KW8 6JA

01431 821 327

http://www.timespan.org.uk/
Timespan on Facebook
@Timespan

Directions
Back

Subscribe now

Keep up to date with the latest from Caithness & Sutherland

About us

Working with local businesses, communities, and stakeholders to provide a united voice and vision for the development and promotion of responsible, sustainable tourism across Caithness and Sutherland.

Partners

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2024 Top Region Far North Scotland
North West Highlands Geopark
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub
Caithness Chamber of Commerce
The Flow Country Partnership
Far North Line Community Rail Partnership
Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL)
Caithness Business Fund
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Developing the Young Workforce North Highland
Scottish Tourism Alliance
  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Contact us
  • Photographers
  • Media
  • Partners
Copyright © 2015 - 2025 Venture North. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie preferences
Website by NB NB Communication - Digital Marketing Agency