In medieval Scotland, land holding was governed by a feudal system. The King held the land of Scotland from God and that land was apportioned out in a pyramidical structure, with the cottars at the base, occupying small portions of land and employed as hired labour. The farms were usually worked by several families in a ‘ferm-toun’ and the land divided up in a system of ‘run rig’.
The feudal system became blurred over time and after the Act of Union in 1707, the major land holders introduced significant agricultural improvements. This led to the Lowland Clearances where small tenant farmers were dispossessed to create much larger units, and to the better-known Highland Clearances where much of the population was removed for sheep farming.
In the 20th century, Scottish agriculture was exposed to world markets, resulting in ever-increasing prices and the introduction of intensive farming and mechanisation.
Aberdeenshire Farming Museum
- Address: Aden Country Park, Station Road, Mintlaw AB42 5FQ
- Tel: 01771 624590
- E-mail: museums@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
- Website: www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/museums/find-a-museum/aberdeenshire-farming-museum
Alford Heritage Museum
- Address: 3 Mart Road, Alford AB33 8BZ
- Tel: 01975 562906
- E-mail: info@alfordheritagemuseum.com
- Website: https://alfordheritagemuseum.com
Arran Heritage Museum
- Address: Rosaburn, Brodick, Isle of Arran, KA27 8DP
- Tel: 01770 302636
- E-mail: info@arranmuseum.co.uk
- Website: www.arranmuseum.co.uk
Auchindrain Township
- Address: Auchindrain, Furnace, Inveraray PA32 8WD
- Tel: 01499 500235
- E-mail: info@auchindrain.org.uk
- Website: www.auchindrain.org.uk
Corrigall Farm Museum
- Address: Harray, Orkney KW17 2JR
- Tel: 01856 771411
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/corrigall-farm-museum.htm
Ellisland Farm Museum name
- Address: Holywood Road, Auldgirth, Dumfries DG2 0RP
- Tel: 01387 740426
- E-mail: info@ellislandfarm.co.uk
- Website: www.ellislandfarm.co.uk
Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
- Address: 5a Gearrannan, Carloway, Isle of Lewis HS2 9AL
- Tel: 01851 643416
- E-mail: info@gearrannan.com
- Website: www.gearrannan.com
Highland Folk Museum
- Address: Kingussie Road, Newtonmore PH20 1AY
- Tel: 01349 781650
- E-mail: highland.folk@highlifehighland.com
- Website: www.highlifehighland.com/highlandfolkmuseum
Kirbuster Farm Museum
- Address: Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2LR
- Tel:01856 771268
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/kirbuster-museum.htm
Laidhay Croft Museum
- Address: Laidhay, Dunbeath, Caithness KW6 6EH
- Tel: 01593 731270
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: http://laidhay.co.uk
Museum of Farming Life
- Address: Pitmedden, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 7PD
- Tel: 01651 842352
- E-mail: pitmeddengarden@nts.org.uk
- Website: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/pitmedden-garden
National Museum of Farming Life
- Address: Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR
- Tel: 0300 123 6789
- E-mail: –
- Website: www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-rural-life
Skye Museum of Farming Life
- Address: Kilmuir by Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9UE
- Tel: 01470 552206
- E-mail: info@skyemuseum.co.uk
- Website: www.skyemuseum.co.uk
[Image Stockvault by alice hervouet]