Hugh Miller's Big Birthday Weekend

Celebrate the 223rd birthday of Cromarty's most famous fossil hunter with us!

As part of the Scottish Geology Festival 2025 celebrations, join us as we celebrate the 223rd birthday of one of the most influential founding fathers of geology!

• Discover the amazing life story of Hugh Miller and see fabulous objects on display inside the cottage and museum!
• Walk in the footsteps of Cromarty's most famous resident and travel back over 385 million years by joining an experienced guide on a Fossil Walk (separate booking required)
• Traverse the boundary between fact and folklore with our "Stories in Stone" exhibition before it finishes on Sunday 12th October!
• Discover Hugh's love of stories as we welcome Storyteller Lizzie Mcdougall inside the same building that Hugh's imagination was ignited (Sunday 12th October only - part of the Big Scottish Story Ripple)
• Learn about life during the 1800s with living history that will take you back to Hugh Miller’s childhood!
• Take home your own artwork with our kids craft activities to remember your visit to Hugh's historic house!
• Dive into the amazing world of natural history with spectacular science experiments happening on both days!

All activities happening over the weekend (with the exception of the Fossil Walks) are included free with admission to the museum.

Plan your visit at: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace

Hugh Miller's Big Birthday Weekend!

• Free with admission to the Birthplace Museum
• Saturday 11th October and Sunday 12th October 2025
• Museum opening hours 11:00 to 16:00 (Last entry 15:30)

• Only service and guide dogs are permitted inside the museum and cottage. Dogs are permitted inside Lydia Garden so long as they are kept on a leash and under control
• All attendees under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by either an parent or guardian and cannot be left unattended during your visit to Hugh Miller's Birthplace
• If you are interested in attending the Fossil Walks taking place over the Big Birthday Weekend, we strongly recommend prebooking tickets. Click here to prebook your space.

National Trust for Scotland (or equivalent) members and Cromarty residents get free entry to Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage and Museum. Standard admission rates still apply over the Big Birthday Weekend.

The storytelling activity in this event has been made possible due to the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s Big Scottish Story Ripple initiative. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) is organised by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) and the Big Scottish Story Ripple is supported by The Scottish Storytelling Forum.