Longhope Lifeboat Museum
Longhope Lifeboat Museum, set on South Walls in Orkney, is a deeply moving tribute to the island’s long maritime history and the bravery of its lifeboat crews. Housed in the former lifeboat shed, the museum centres on the historic 47‑foot Watson‑class lifeboat Thomas McCunn, which served the community from 1962 to 1988. An interesting fact is that this vessel took part in countless rescues across the Pentland Firth, one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the UK. Inside, visitors can explore the original boathouse, complete with slipway and equipment that once stood ready for rapid launch. The lifeboat itself is beautifully preserved, allowing you to step aboard and see the wheelhouse, navigation instruments and crew spaces exactly as they were during service. The museum also displays uniforms, medals, logbooks and photographs, offering a powerful insight into the lives of the volunteers who faced storms, darkness and dangerous seas. A poignant section of the museum commemorates the 1969 Longhope disaster, in which eight crew members lost their lives during a rescue attempt. Their story is told with dignity and care, reminding visitors of the extraordinary courage behind lifeboat work.
Brims Scotland
The Longhope Lifeboat Museum is a deeply poignant maritime heritage site housed within the former lifeboat station at Brims. The museum commemorates the extraordinary bravery of local RNLI crews who risked their lives in the treacherous waters of the Pentland Firth. Its centerpiece display is the historic lifeboat Thomas McCunn, an offshore vessel that served the station for decades. Visitors can step inside the original Slipway Shed to explore authentic equipment, personal artifacts, photographs, and dramatic historic accounts, including tributes to the heroic crew lost in the tragic 1969 disaster. The museum is located at Brims, South Walls, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3NZ, Scotland, United Kingdom. It stands on the southern coast of South Walls, connected by a causeway to the island of Hoy. Because of its position on Hoy and South Walls, visiting the museum allows you to explore several historic landmarks and scenic island attractions. Nearby stands the Hackness Martello Tower and Battery, a remarkably preserved early nineteenth-century Napoleonic fortification built to protect British shipping. Across the island, you can visit the Hoy Heritage Centre in Lyness, which details the crucial role Scapa Flow played as a naval base during both World Wars. Heading further north on Hoy brings you to the famous Old Man of Hoy sea stack and coastal paths, as well as the unique Dwarfie Stane, an ancient Neolithic rock-cut tomb.