Explorer Pass FAQs

Planning your visit

Our pass includes entry our sites that are open including Edinburgh, Stirling, and Urquhart Castles. For a full list of the sites that are open please visit www.historyawaits.scot

Explorer Pass holders can visit anytime within regular opening hours. For a list of sites and opening times, please visit www.historyawaits.scot.

Passes must be bought online

Please check our individual site listings to see whether your furry friend can join you on your visit.

Where sites normally have toilets, they will be open. Please see individual site listings. Enhanced cleaning measures will be in place across all facilities.

Unfortunately to ensure that we manage our capacities at sites, you can only visit each site once.

Unfortunately, entry to Holyrood Palace is not included.

Booking your passes and visits

We accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and American Express.

All passes need to be booked online in advance – at the moment we do not have the facilities to process payments over the phone.

No. Advance online booking is required to visit our sites and a card only service will be operated on site including our cafés and shops.

Yes. For a list of sites and opening times, please visit www.historyawaits.scot

Not at the moment, you will need to book tickets online prior to arriving. However, you can book online on the day of your visit if there are tickets available.

In line with best practice in the visitor attractions industry, visitors with disabilities are treated on an equal basis with all other visitors and entry is charged at the appropriate admission category rate - Adult/Concession/Child. Proof of disability is not required.

We recognise that some visitors with disabilities may need help to visit our properties and we offer free entry for carers accompanying visitors with disabilities. To book a free carer ticket, email ticketing@hes.scot and quote your order number.

Please make an online booking for the paying members of your party. To book a free carer’s ticket, please email us at ticketing@hes.scot, quoting your order number.

Your tickets will be attached in your email confirmation in a PDF document. Please print your tickets and bring them with you for entry. You can also opt to collect your tickets on arrival and print them at the designated ticket collection points.

No, we are unable to post tickets. Tickets will be emailed to you.

No, your email confirmation email should arrive shortly after booking. If you have not received this, please check your junk folder in the first instance. If you have not received this please contact ticketing@hes.scot with details of your booking (name on booking, email address used and property visiting) and they will investigate and get back to you as soon as possible.

If the web page is not displaying correctly, we advise you to clear the cache/cookies on your browser then close the browser and reopen it. The ticketing page should now load correctly. If this doesn’t work the date/time slot you wish may be sold out – please check for an alternative date/time.

If you cannot find the email confirmation please email ticketing@hes.scot with your booking details (name on booking, email address used and property visiting).

All visitors aged 65+, full-time students and UK visitors who are unemployed are eligible for Concession tickets. You will be asked to show proof of eligibility on arrival.

Yes, full-time students are eligible for the Explorer Pass concession category.

Not all sites have the facilities so if you have selected Print at Home as your delivery method, please print your tickets and bring them with you for entry. You can also opt to collect your tickets on arrival and print them at the designated ticket collection points.

Travelling to our sites

Some of our sites do have parking however each site is different so you may need to book a car space when booking your ticket. Please check the information on the web page for the site you wish to visit.

We do have blue badge spaces at some of our sites. Please check the information on the web page for the site you wish to visit.

Please check the information on the web page for the site you wish to visit.

Cancellations, refunds and exchanges

Please contact our Admissions & Sales Team, ticketing@hes.scot or call 0131 668 8831

In the event of severe weather such as strong winds or snow, we may need to close our sites. The sites will close if the weather presents a hazard and a risk to visitors.

We recommend that you check our website and our social media channels on the day you are going to visit, especially if severe weather is forecast, as a closure notice will be posted here first.

Customers will then be contacted by us shortly afterwards with details regarding how to rebook or how to claim a refund. If you have not been contacted within 48 hours please contact ticketing@hes.scot.

All tickets purchased are non-refundable as per our terms and conditions however if tickets are available for different dates then we can alter your existing booking. Please contact ticketing@hes.scot with your booking details

If we have availability then yes, we can alter the date of your tickets, please contact ticketing@hes.scot with your booking details. With staff working from home please be aware that our response times may be slower.