The Scottish Maritime Museum holds an important; nationally recognised and varied collection of historic ships, artefacts, shipbuilding machinery, machine tools, small vessels, canoes, lifeboats and other fascinating personal items. The Scottish Maritime Museum also has an ambitious three year programme to create an art collection of national significance.
This growing art collection, which includes works by George Wyllie, Francis Cadell, Benno Schotz and Tom McKendrick, brings an exciting new dimension to the Museum’s nationally recognised collection of maritime heritage.
Scottish Maritime Museum
Visitor Info
Accessibility
The Scottish Maritime Museum welcomes you at Irvine and Dumbarton.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on accessibility.
IRVINE
Pre-Arrival
- We deal with enquiries by phone and by email.
- By road, upon reaching Irvine, follow the brown signs to the Harbourside and the Maritime Museum.
- By bus, the nearest bus stop is 500 yards away.
- By rail, we are 500 yards from Irvine railway station.
- The museum has a manual wheelchair that can be booked in advance of your visit: visitorservices@scotmaritime.org.uk.
Arrival and Car Parking Facilities
- There is a large FREE car park on site with blue badge spaces.
- There is level access to the front door.
Main Entrance, Reception, Gift Shop
- The reception area is well lit.
- There is a low level counter at reception.
- There is level access from the reception to the gift shop and toilets.
- Staff will be pleased to assist you as may be necessary.
Puffers Cafe and Museum Shop
- The Cafe and Shop are located outside the Museum on the harbourside, 200 yards from the main building.
- There is level access to the building.
- Tables and chairs in the Cafe are free standing.
- Light levels are medium in the Shop and good in the Cafe.
Public areas
- The public parts of the Museum are accessible and most have level access.
- There is stepped access to both the 1920s shipyard worker’s tenement flat and the vessel MV Kyles.
- Access to our temporary exhibition space is up a ramp with a low incline.
- The layout is spacious and there is ample room for wheelchairs and buggies throughout the public areas.
- Light levels are medium.
Dogs
- Assistance dogs are welcome and bowls of water are available upon request.
Toilets
- Accessible toilets are available.
- A baby changing facility is available.
- An emergency alarm is provided in the accessible toilets.
- Taps are easy to use and do not require an ability to grip.
DUMBARTON
Pre-Arrival
- We deal with enquiries by phone and by email.
- By road, upon reaching Dumbarton, follow the brown signs.
- By bus, there are several bus stops within 500 yards of the Museum.
- By rail, we are 500 yards from Dumbarton Central railway station.
Arrival and Car Parking Facilities
- There is a large FREE car park on site with disabled spaces.
- There are 11 steps up to the front door. There is a hand rail.
Main Entrance, Reception and Gift Shop
- The reception area has medium lighting.
- There is a low level counter at reception.
- There is level access from the reception to the gift shop and toilets
- Staff will be pleased to assist you as may be necessary.
Public areas
- There are steps within the Museum.
- Light levels are medium.
Cafe
- Tables and chairs in the café are free standing.
Toilets
- An accessible toilet is available.
- Baby changing facilities are available.
- An emergency alarm is provided in the accessible toilets.
- Taps are easy to use and do not require an ability to grip.
Dogs
- Assistance dogs are welcome and bowls of water are available upon request.
