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Salmon Bothy, Portsoy

Aberdeenshire

In Person

A former working Salmon House, the Salmon Bothy has been lovingly restored and now comprises a museum, a base for family history research and a fully functional community space and venue.

The museum showcases displays, artefacts and information about Portsoy’s harbours, the industry and trade, the salmon fishing operations, the unique geology of the area and the flora and fauna of the area.

Upstairs at the Bothy is a fully functional community space and venue used by many clubs and societies on a regular basis, providing the perfect backdrop for cosy folk music evenings, musical recitals and small theatre groups. It is also the home of Folk at the Salmon Bothy, a highly active traditional music club which now holds its own annual festival, The HAAL. The venue is available for hire for meetings, workshops, classes and many types of events and gatherings, including weddings and parties.

The Salmon Bothy is run entirely by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, as part of Portsoy Community Enterprise. The group receives no public funding towards operational costs, all costs are met through donations and venue hire charges which are kept as minimal as possible.

The Bothy is recognised as a four-star Historic Attraction by Museums Galleries Scotland and attracts in excess of 3,000 visitors and users per Annum.

In 2023 we have a new children’s area. We have a DVD of the history of Portsoy and the fishing seen through the eyes of the young people of Portsoy. Our latest exhibit of the unique geology of Portsoy has been updated and we have on loan an exhibit regarding the Portsoy Marble industry.