Auchindrain Historic Township

Visit a historic village that is the last of its kind

Sheltered in the hills of Mid Argyll lies a hidden gem, a sole survivor of a kind of rural settlement where people lived and worked the land together. Up until the 1800s most people in rural Scotland lived in places like Auchindrain. Between 1750 to 1860 landlords across the country evicted the tenants to make the land more profitable. The villages, known as townships, fell into ruin or disappeared. Auchindrain, however, survived the so called agricultural improvements and remained an active community with the last tenant leaving in the 1950s. Today, the village is presented as an open air museum. You can visit the houses and barns and learn about the people who lived here. Life was hard and amenities were scarce. With no running water or electricity, people made the best of what the land could offer. If you have Scottish blood, it is very likely that some of your ancestors lived in a place like Auchindrain. The site is open all year. The Visitor Centre, Gift Shop, and Tearoom are open from April to October. Facilities include picnic tables, toilets, and free parking. Dogs welcome!