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Combatting climate change

Aerial view of Threave Castle standing on a small grassy island, surrounded by dark floodwater that has overflowed into the surrounding fields and trees.

Many of the sites we care for are thousands of years old. Some are ruins, while others are exposed to harsh conditions in coastal or remote locations. Their age, setting and original construction materials can make them particularly vulnerable to damage and decay as our climate changes.

How does climate change threaten our history?

Scotland is often characterised by its wet weather, but our changing climate is accelerating the deterioration of many of our historic buildings with:

  • Rainfall - recent increases and intensity of rainfall have been washing out mortar from between stones and saturating stonework at roofless and ruinous sites, causing weakness.

  • Freezing - in the colder months, this water can freeze and expand, causing cracks and damage to historic masonry.

  • Plant life - plants can easily take hold in the spaces between stones and their roots can widen cracks. The growing season is now longer than it used to be, and removing plant life from taller areas, such as round towers and spires, can be challenging.

  • Extreme weather - we’re now experiencing more storms and extreme weather. High winds can damage historic fabric by causing masonry and tree falls.

  • Rising sea levels and flooding – historic sites in coastal and riverside locations are under threat from rising water levels which can cause land erosion, flooding and masonry deterioration.

Scotland isn’t alone in facing these threats - the challenge of conserving historic buildings in the face of climate change is a global issue, and we’re always sharing our experiences and learnings with heritage organisations to help protect historic places worldwide.

Frost-covered tree branch in the foreground with Doune Castle visible in the misty background.
Rain splashes into a shallow puddle in the stone courtyard of Inchcolm Abbey, with a blurred arched doorway in the background.
A worker in safety gear uses a long tool from a raised platform to clear vegetation from a steep rock face.

Our work on climate change

Our work on climate change isn't just about the sites we care for. Explore how climate change affects Scotland's wider historic environment and what we’re doing to help limit the impact.
Aerial view shows a castle with rising waters around it in visibly flooded area with partly-submerged fields

Looking after sites in our care

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What we're doing to protect the sites in our care

Find out about how we manage the properties in our care and some of the projects we are currently working on.

Masonry inspections

Making sure the masonry at our sites is safe and secure is one of our top challenges. Find out how we're addressing it.

Monument Monitor

Find out about a citizen science project that uses your photographs of heritage sites to help with their conservation.

Our Ranger Service

Welcoming school trips, leading nature walks, getting to grips with geology and dallying in folklore is all in a day's work for our Rangers.

Looking after gravestones

Find out about our work inspecting and repairing gravestones, making sure it's safe to visit the churches, abbeys and cathedrals in our care.