Guided Tours

Guided tours are available and can be pre-booked before your visit. Our guided tours take place outside of the main museum building.

Our fitting shed is across the yard from the main site and is all one level with a small ramp to access the building.

In the fitting shed we have a working engine that can be loud when starting up, please let a member of staff know if you have any sensitivities to noise, we can provide ear defenders.

Getting to the 1920s Shipyard Workers flat requires leaving the main concourse and taking a 4-minute walk to Montgomery Street.

To access our 1920’s Shipyard workers flat there are two steps leading up to the front door. There is access through the backdoor without any steps, please let staff know on arrival if you would prefer using this entrance.

The Boatshop and Puffer’s Café is a 4-minute walk from the museum and is reached by walking around the building and down Linthouse vennel and across the road to Harbour Street.

There is a ramp leading up to the entrance of the shop. The door is heavy, but staff are on hand to open the door for you if needed.

Quieter Times

On the first Monday of every month from 10.00am until 11.30am you can enjoy a calmer opening of the Linthouse building. No need to book in advance to attend these openings, just turn up, we would be pleased to welcome you. Visitor Services staff will be on hand to support your visit and all sound and interactives will be turned off. This session is suitable for visitors with sensory needs and those that prefer a more relaxed visit. A quiet space will be available in our education room.

At 11.30 am the sound and interactives will be switched back on, but you are welcome to continue with your visit.

2025 Quiet openings

• Monday 1st September
• Monday 6th October
• Monday 3rd November
• Monday 1st December

The noisiest times in the Museum are Tuesdays and Thursday mornings. If you have any sensitivities to noise, we can provide both adult and child size ear defenders.

Accessible Events

Please see our events page.

Visual Story

We have created visual stories to give you an idea of what to expect when you visit us. The purpose of these guides is to help you move around the Museum, guided tours, café information and gift shops.

Hearing Impaired and D/deaf visitors

There is a portable induction loop system at the Museum Visitor Services desk.

All our AV/films throughout the Museum have captioning. A transcript is also available and will be placed next to the exhibit.

Assistance Dogs

Registered medical assistance dogs and Guide Dogs are welcome in the Museum.

Assistance dog UK: https://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/

They must always be under the owner’s care and control. The dogs should be wearing a visible identifier (harness, bib or badge) to show that they are an assistance dog. In the summer water bowls are available at the front entrance of our buildings and the entrance to Puffers Café.

Feedback and further information

Visitor Services – Irvine 01294 277177

We value your feedback pre or post visit, please contact us at accessibility@scotmaritime.org.uk

Dumbarton site

Getting here

By Car

Entry to the building can be accessed by the carpark at the front of the main entrance.

By Bike

We have push bike racks outside that you can secure your bikes to as you visit the museum.

Public transport

The Museum is 10 minutes walk from Dumbarton Central or Dumbarton East Stations.

Getting into around the Museum

The entrance to the Museum is accessed by 11 concrete steps with a handrail provided. There are no access ramps or lifts inside, or outside, the building.

There are exhibition rooms on the first floor and a set of stairs leading to the temporary exhibitions on the 2nd Floor.

Who can I ask for help?

Our staff will be wearing navy polo shirts with a white embroidered Scottish Maritime Museum logo and black trousers with a lanyard showing their SMM ID badge. You will find a staff member at the front desk at the entrance and walking around the Museum.

Toilets

The toilets are situated upstairs and have a child sized toilet seat insert as well as a nappy changing station. The nearest accessible toilet is within Morrisons supermarket next to the Museum. The nearest changing places toilet is in Dumbarton Centre.

Quieter Times

The Denny Tank Museum is a mainly quiet environment unless there is a large group or school visit. We also have occasional boatbuilding taking place downstairs in the main Museum. If you would like to ensure none of these events are happening on the day you would like to visit, please call 01389 763444 in advance.

Visual Story

We have created visual stories to give you an idea of what to expect when you visit us. The purpose of these guides is to help you move around the Museum, guided tours, café information and gift shops.