Masonry inspections

Towers, spires and battlements are often the most exposed parts of a building, and changes in weather and climate can accelerate deterioration that isn’t visible from the ground.

In 2022 we launched a new, innovative programme of inspections to check the high-level stonework at some of our sites across Scotland. Over the years, inspections have taken our specialist teams to over 200 historic places where they’ve climbed ladders, scaled walls and wobbled stones to find out how our changing climate is impacting some of Scotland’s most important monuments.

The inspections allow our trained specialists to get up close and personal with high-reaching masonry, during rain or shine, to check for any signs of damage or deterioration. They do this by hand, physically checking stones for movement and using special tools to ‘listen’ for any hidden decay.

But accessing the very tops of turrets and towers can be challenging. After careful planning, inspectors survey these hard-to-reach areas using ladders and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs). Some of our inspectors have even learnt how to inspect using ropes, abseiling down battlements and curtain walls when access from the ground isn’t possible.

Moving equipment and machinery into these spaces can also be difficult. Gatehouses weren’t built to accommodate big machines and sometimes we have to think outside the box, using cranes or helicopters to help us move large or heavy equipment, all while making sure any hidden ground archaeology and the monuments themselves stay protected.

In 2024 we welcomed Matt Baker and the crew from Channel 4’s Matt Baker’s British Isles along to the inspections at Kilchurn Castle and Bonawe Iron Furnace. Watch the episode for an access-all-areas look at how we inspect, survey and carry out repairs our sites.

Our inspections initially began in 2022 at 70 key sites where closures and access restrictions had been put in place for the safety of staff and visitors.

During this time, we explored new ways to share the stories of our temporarily closed sites. We developed enhanced on-site interpretation and immersive experiences like 3D models, audio tours, and virtual trails to offer visitors fresh perspectives on these remarkable places until they could be fully explored again.

Inspections on the priority sites were completed in spring 2024, and our teams moved on to assess the rest of our historic places with high-level masonry, before finishing the full programme ahead of schedule in early 2026.

Inspection results varied from site to site – some needed little or no work, meaning they could reopen or remain open to visitors. Others needed more work before we could open them back up to the public.

Repairs can take time, and some are still taking place to help improve access for visitors. As repairs progress, we’ll continue to lift restrictions and reopen sites, just as soon as it’s safe to do so. Check our visitor information pages for up-to-date visitor information on access at sites.

When they began, these high-level masonry inspections were a new and innovative approach. Now, they’re part of our day-to-day work and our inspectors have begun a new cycle of stonework surveys. These will build on the first programme, using the initial data as a benchmark to help guide future assessments and conservation work.

Regular tactile checks will help us to detect some conservation needs early, minimising the need for future intervention and access restrictions, and reducing the costs involved in carrying out repairs.

All 200+ sites will now be inspected on a rolling basis, with priority given to older buildings, certain stone types and past issues and inspection results. Each site will be inspected at least once every five years.

Some local access restrictions may be needed while inspections and any essential repairs take place, but we don’t expect any further site closures or restrictions as part of the new programme.

Our inspection programme is just one example of how we’re committed to looking after the sites in our care – on behalf of the people of Scotland, and for future generations.