HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Do you have any questions before your visit?
You’ll find answers to our most common questions below. If you don’t find the answers that you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us on [email protected]
1) How much does it cost to come in?
We are a free museum, so there is no charge for entry, although we do have donations boxes which help with the running of the museum.
2) How much time to do we need inside the exhibition?
We recommend around 1½ - 2 hours inside the building. You can spend time looking at the exhibits in the Lower and Upper Exhibition rooms and our Natural history room or stop for a cake and catch up using our café – or you can spend time in our Reading room, researching family history, local history or read some of our Shetland books. These things may take longer than if you were just looking through our exhibitions.
3) Is there an age limit for children visiting the museum?
There is no age limit, although as most of our artefacts are precious, we ask that they are not touched. Please ensure children are supervised at all times.
4) What are the opening hours for the shop and café?
Same as the whole museum you can find opening times at the bottom of the page.
The garden is open all year round
5) When is a good time to visit?
The Old Haa is usually busiest in the afternoons, to have more time and space to look at exhibits or to do some research, we would recommend visiting us when the museum opens in the morning.
6) Am I allowed to take pictures inside?
You are more than welcome to take as many photos as you want in the exhibitions but, please remember, that no flash is allowed!
7) Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum is a former 17th century merchant’s house, so unfortunately it is littered with steps and narrow doorways. Our toilets are accessible on the same level, but not by wheelchair, via a door from the back of the building. Access to upper rooms (Natural History and Local history room) are via a very steep stairway with handles on both sides.
8) Can I bring a pushchair inside the Old Haa?
Due to the building being a 17th century merchants house, we have narrow doors and lots of steps/stairs. If you would like to take your pushchair in, it may well be difficult to navigate around the building. We would also ask you to be super careful that you do not knock into any of the artefacts or display cabinets.
9) Am I allowed to bring animals to the Old Haa?
Assistance dogs are allowed. Unfortunately, as much as we love animals, we cannot allow any others inside the Old Haa for safety and allergy reasons.
10)How do I get to the Old Haa?
Information can be found here
11) Can I park outside the Old Haa?
Yes, we have a car park which can hold up to 6 cars across the road from the Old Haa, which makes it easy to access the Old Haa and garden.
12) Is there a cloakroom or place to store luggage?
Unfortunately, we do not have cloakrooms or space to store large items.
13) Is it safe to leave my bike outside?
Yes it is safe to leave your bike outside. There is a very low crime rate in Yell.
14) Is there a restaurant or café in the Old Haa?
We have a café where you can buy tea/coffee/juice and delicious homebakes. Ask museum assistant for more information about allergies.
If you would like a more substantial meal, The Hillshop & Isle Eat café and LJs diner are both in Mid Yell. LJs shares parking with Yell Leisure Centre and Mid Yell Junior High School. Further afield Frankies fish and chip shop is available in Brae (north mainland) or Victorias Vintage Tearooms in Unst.
15) I lost something when visiting the museum
If you lose something during your visit, please send an email to [email protected] with a description (and an image if possible) of your lost item and we will search through our Lost & Found record for you.
16) Where can I leave a review of the museum?
17) How do donate an item to the museum?
What you can do is contact us at [email protected] before you arrive and we will send you our donations policy and privacy policy so you can decide if that is something you want to do, if you still would like to offer an item for donation, then please get in touch and we will arrange for someone to have the necessary paperwork in place for you to start the donation process swiftly. Donations are subject to our Collections Policy so we cannot guarantee that every item offered will be accepted.
18) My relative donated an item to the museum, I’d love to see when I visit. Is that possible?
Yes, this is possible, email us so we can get it ready for you coming.