Staffin Dinosaur Museum, Isle of Skye

Museum near Isle of Skye

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Nature scotland

Staffin Dinosaur Museum in Staffin, on the Isle of Skye, is a small natural history museum focused on dinosaur fossils and trackways from the island's Jurassic rocks. It sits in a simple stone barn beside the road, so it is easy to miss if you are driving past. Inside, the displays are closely packed rather than large-scale, with bones, teeth, footprint casts, and other finds collected from the local area. The museum grew out of Dugald Ross's fieldwork and lifelong fossil hunting, and the collection reflects what has been found around Staffin and the wider Trotternish Peninsula.

What makes the museum worth a stop is the direct link between the specimens and the landscape outside. Visitors see evidence of dinosaurs that once moved across Skye, then can hear how the footprint sites on Staffin Bay are found and interpreted. It is best for people who want something factual and local rather than a big polished exhibition: fossil enthusiasts, families with curious children, and travellers who enjoy geology or unusual roadside stops.

History and Significance of the Staffin Dinosaur Museum
Things to See and Do in the Staffin Dinosaur Museum
How to Get to the Staffin Dinosaur Museum
Practical Tips on Visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum
Where to Stay close to the Staffin Dinosaur Museum
Is the Staffin Dinosaur Museum Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

History and Significance of the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

The museum was established in 1976 by Dugald Ross, who began collecting fossils in his youth and quickly developed a passion for understanding Skye’s prehistoric environment. His discoveries revealed an extraordinary range of dinosaur species that once roamed the region. Among these are Stegosaurus, Megalosaurus, Cetiosaurus, Hadrosaurus, and Coelophysis, all represented within the museum’s collection.

Housed in a restored stone barn, the museum blends local heritage with global scientific importance. The fossils on display provide insight into the Middle Jurassic period-an age from which few fossil-bearing sites exist worldwide. Skye is now considered one of the most significant dinosaur locations in Scotland, thanks in large part to Ross’s dedication and decades of fieldwork.

The museum’s mission goes beyond preservation. It actively connects visitors to the landscape through guided walks to Staffin’s dinosaur footprints, allowing people to see ancient tracks exactly where they were found, frozen in the shoreline rock for 170 million years.

Things to See and Do in the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

Inside the museum, explore carefully displayed fossils, bones, teeth, and track casts collected from the surrounding area. Each specimen offers a glimpse into Skye’s prehistoric ecosystem and the dinosaurs that lived here.

One of the highlights is hearing first-hand stories about the discoveries from Dugald Ross himself, who is often present to answer questions and share his experiences. The museum’s small scale adds to its charm, creating a personal and engaging atmosphere.

The most exciting experience, however, is the guided trip to Staffin Bay's dinosaur footprints. These tracks can be difficult to locate without a knowledgeable guide, and the tides play a significant role in visibility. Joining a tour ensures visitors can see them safely and clearly, making this one of the things to do in the Isle of Skye for families, fossil enthusiasts, and curious travellers.

How to Get to the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

The museum is located in the village of Staffin on the eastern side of the Trotternish Peninsula. The nearest major airport is Inverness Airport, which connects travellers to the Highlands before they continue onward to Skye. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Isle of Skye on Booking.com.

Visitors can take a train to Kyle of Lochalsh, then cross the Skye Bridge by bus or car, following the A87 and A855 north toward Staffin. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.

Driving is the easiest way to reach the museum. It sits just off the A855 in a small stone building easily recognised from the road. Parking is available beside the museum.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

Suggested tips: Check tide times if planning to join a footprint tour; visibility depends on low tide.
Best time to visit: Spring to autumn when weather and tides make footprint walks easier.
Entrance fee: A small fee applies; check locally for current pricing.
Opening hours: Typically seasonal; contact ahead for times and tour arrangements.
Official website: See local Staffin tourism pages for details and updates.
How long to spend: 30 minutes inside the museum; 1-1.5 hours if joining a footprint walk.
Accessibility: The museum is compact; the footprint walk involves uneven coastal terrain.
Facilities: Limited on-site facilities; Staffin village has shops and cafes nearby.
Photography tip: Bring a macro lens or use phone close-ups to capture fossil detail.
Guided tours: Offered by the museum to see Staffin Bay’s dinosaur footprints.
Nearby food options: Cafes in Staffin offer meals and snacks before or after your visit.

Where to Stay close to the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

Staffin is an excellent base for exploring Skye’s prehistoric and natural highlights. Stay at Staffin House, conveniently located for local attractions. For dramatic views across northern Trotternish, consider Flodigarry Hotel. Further west, Uig Hotel provides comfortable accommodation close to both Staffin and Uig ferry connections.

Is the Staffin Dinosaur Museum Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. For its unique fossils, personal storytelling, and access to real dinosaur footprints, the museum stands out as one of the must-see places in the Isle of Skye for history lovers, families, and anyone curious about Scotland's ancient past. Its combination of local dedication and global scientific importance makes it a standout experience.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.4 (423)

Jurassic Dinosaurs Footprints at An Corran in Skye, Portree G74 2BX is a coastal spot where visitors can examine visible dinosaur footprints in flat rock near the shore; parking is available but limited and the best time to look is around low tide when indentations are easier to spot, though some prints can be hidden by seaweed or sand. Reviewers say a clear print can be found close to the ramp from the car park if you turn right toward the rocks, and that patience, good footwear and checking photos or asking others helps locate the roughly ten or so embedded prints; the beach is clean with space to explore and there are interesting views across to a nearby fishing camp island.

Sagee Levi

2 months ago

"A favorite site not only for fans of the genre and geologists. A place where you can actually see dinosaur footprints. When we arrived, we saw hikerslooking and not finding any. But once you pay attention, you see lots of footprints in what was the Jurassic mud. Highly recommended. The road reaches right above the seashore...."

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477KeithC

a month ago

"An amazing treasure trove of Skye fossils and geological history. The small size belies the quality within - large dinosaur footprints from the localarea and elsewhere in Skye. Not overwhelming with text, but the attendant curator can provide more details if you wish. They can also help direct you to local spots where footprints and other fossils can be found. The Museum was built and filled by local crofter Dugald Ross who became the fossil expert for Skye and subsequently recognised as such by Scottish universities...."

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Valérie

6 months ago

"Any chance that I get to explore a shore is worth my time. And when you do, be sure to wear good footwear and to be cautious if it is wet and whereyou walk. There is seaweed, after all. Anyone would love to be the first to observe the footprint of dinosaurs, but getting a chance to find a few of the 10 or so embedded in the rock is quite exciting. Just be patient. Consult the pictures shared on Google Maps. And don't be afraid to ask others to guide you, if you think that they have found some. It's exciting. When there has been rain, they are a little easier to identify. Some of the big rocks have shell inclusions. A family drew their own dinosaurs prints in the sand......"

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dylangZ5631JT

a month ago

"This museum is over priced £5 per person not much to see there is like 10 fossils really bad don't recommend"

Gretchen Godbout

5 months ago

"This was SO freaking cool! We found several footprints and the fishing camp island across was interesting to learn about. The beach was clean withplenty of space to enjoy...."

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Karrst

3 months ago

"The Staffin Dinosaur Museum is home to a significant collection of Jurassic dinosaur fossils and is internationally acclaimed. It is house in anunassuming old school house, on the side of the A855, with only a small sign to mark it's presence. Blink at your GPS and you may miss it. That would be a real shame. The Staffin Dinosaur Museum was established by Dugald Ross in 1976, who as a teenager spent time wandering the shores of Skye collecting and identifying the fossils for his museum. The species in the collection he identified in the local area include Stegosaurus, Megalosaurus, Cetiosaurus, Hadrosaurus, and Ceolophysis. Along with the dinosaur footprints there area also ammonites and other fossils discovered in the local Jurassic sandstones. His passion for fossil collection from these Jurassic beds, has now become a focus for dinosaur research in recent years. This is a must visit if you're on Skye, as a tourist, geologist or just a Jurassic Park fan. There is a small entrance fee, but well worth it. There were a couple of negatives to our visit. The staff were difficult to engage in any discussion and you are not allowed to take any photographs. This is can understand, but there was no literature like a guide book available either. Nevertheless we spent almost an hour enjoying ourselves looking at the fossils and reading about them...."

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FAQs for Visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum

No, they are tide-dependent and tricky to locate; a guided tour is recommended.

Most were discovered by Dugald Ross, the museum’s founder.

Yes, children enjoy the fossils and footprint tours.

It is advisable, especially in peak season.

The Staffin Dinosaur Museum appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Isle of Skye!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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