Castle House Museum

Step into history and discover the fascinating past of Dunoon

Situated in Castle Gardens, Castle House Museum is at the heart of the history of Dunoon.

From our windows, we have picturesque views of the Victorian Pier and the Castle Hill flagpole, which marks the site where the thirteenth-century Dunoon Castle once stood.

Our displays showcase Dunoon's rich history. Our main display area takes visitors on a chronological journey through this history, from Neolithic times to twentieth-century wartime. Along the way, visitors can discover more about local history.

Key exhibits include the life of Robert Burns' companion, Highland Mary, the history of The Clan Lamont, and Dunoon's growing popularity as a holiday resort from the 1890s onwards, a vital destination for those travelling 'doon the water' on steamers.

Our Victorian Rooms are realistic room-set reconstructions which show life in the Victorian era: the clocks are ticking, and the plants are growing! Our cinema room shows a short presentation of pictures of Dunoon and the surrounding areas in the past and compares these to recent times.

With activities for younger visitors to complete and our memorabilia collection to see, why not discover the area's fascinating history yourself?