Edinburgh Castle goes dark for the first time in 5 years

As part of planned repairs, Edinburgh Castle will lose mains power for an estimated two to three hours from 5pm on Wednesday 23 October.

It will be the first time in five years that this dramatic monument in Edinburgh’s skyline has gone dark, as the Castle is usually floodlit. The last time power was shut off to Edinburgh Castle was in 2019, when electrical LV feeder pillars were installed on-site.

This time, the power will be temporarily shut off to allow essential repairs to the high voltage cable trays and brackets. The trays and brackets have corroded, in part due to the increased temperature and humidity experienced in Edinburgh as part of climate change.

Edinburgh Castle is one of 336 properties in care of Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Many other sites, particularly coastal properties like Skara Brae, Tantallon Castle and others, have experienced accelerated wear and tear on their fabric due to the increased moisture and extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change.

HES is tackling this challenge through a systematic inspection and programme of conservation work of the masonry across all sites.

The repairs to Edinburgh Castle are expected to finish the same evening, and the Castle is expected to re-open to visitors as normal at 9.30am on Thursday 24 October.

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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