World Heritage Sites

Scotland’s six World Heritage Sites – from Neolithic Orkney to New Lanark – are outstanding for a diverse range of reasons.

What is a World Heritage Site?

World Heritage Sites are cultural and/or natural sites of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’, which are important across countries and generations.
Achieving World Heritage Site status

A brief guide to achieving World Heritage Site status, from government nomination to UNESCO assessment.
Retaining World Heritage Site status

Each World Heritage Site has a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a management plan.
World Heritage Sites in Scotland

Get a brief overview of Scotland’s six World Heritage Sites.
Antonine Wall

When built 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire’s most northerly frontier was also its most complex.
Forth Bridge

A masterpiece of human creative genius, this 2.5km-long bridge spans the River Forth estuary.
Heart of Neolithic Orkney

These prehistoric monuments form one of Western Europe’s richest surviving Neolithic landscapes.
New Lanark

Robert Owen’s management transformed this cotton mill village and inspired wider social change.
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital contrasts an extraordinary landscape with many significant historic buildings.
St Kilda

One of the few World Heritage Sites to hold mixed status for its cultural and natural qualities.
Download World Heritage Site information

Explore Scotland’s outstanding sites using these resources – many of them in different languages.