More than 30 historic seasonal sites across the country will reopen to visitors from Tuesday 1 April, as Historic Scotland marks the start of its spring/summer season.
Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover or simply looking for a day out, Scotland’s history is ready to be discovered. From the ancient Broch of Gurness in Orkney - home to one of Scotland’s best-preserved Iron Age villages - down to Dundrennan Abbey in Dumfries where Mary, Queen of Scots spent her last hours in Scotland, there are historic sites spread throughout the entire country.
Craig Mearns, Director of Operations at HES, said:
The start of the new visitor season is always exciting. As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to step outside, experience Scotland’s natural beauty and get a closer look at our past. With castles, palaces, priories and brochs all reopening, everyone will find an aspect of Scottish heritage to enjoy.
“These sites are part of Scotland’s history and offer an incredible range of experience and understanding. Our monuments include safe havens for key historical figures, strategic fortresses, Hanoverian munitions factories and sites of ceremonial importance to ancient tribes. Each place tells a unique story, and we look forward to sharing them with people from across the world.”
Many sites will also be celebrating the onset of warmer weather with family-friendly events such as Easter Eggsplorer Trails. View a full list of events.
Visitors can find out more about sites reopening in their area. Tickets are on sale now with a discount available for purchasing in advance.
Entry to sites and daytime events is free for Historic Scotland members. Members can also collect History Hunt Cards, a series of seven cards looking at the various types of sites including fortresses, settlements, and towers, when they visit staffed sites. A full set can be exchanged for a pin badge only available through the Hunt. For further information or to become a member visit: alittlehistory.scot
Seasonal sites reopening from 1 April are:
- Balvenie Castle
- Bishop's & Earl's Palaces
- Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace
- Broch of Gurness
- Burleigh Castle
- Cairnpapple Hill
- Cambuskenneth Abbey
- Castle Campbell
- Corgarff Castle
- Crossraguel Abbey
- Dundrennan Abbey
- Edzell Castle
- Elcho Castle
- Glenluce Abbey
- Hackness Battery & Martello Tower (reopening 28 April)
- Hermitage Castle
- Inchcolm Abbey
- Inchmahome Priory
- Innerpeffray Chapel
- Kildrummy Castle
- Kinneil House
- Lochleven Castle
- Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum
- Newark Castle
- Ravenscraig Castle
- Seton Collegiate Church
- Smailholm Tower
- Spynie Palace
- St Serf's Church and Dupplin Cross
- St Vigeans Stones & Museum
- Stanley Mills
- Tolquhon Castle
- Tullibardine Chapel
- Trinity House
- Whithorn Priory and Museum
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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For further information, please contact:
Stacey Shaw
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot