Looking after scheduled monuments

We want to work with land managers to build awareness of scheduled monuments and the responsibilities they bring.

Scheduling does not affect land ownership – a scheduled monument remains the property of its owner. It also does not provide any additional right of access to the public.

But sites are at risk of damage or neglect if people are unaware of the presence and/or extent of a scheduled monument, how important scheduled monuments are, or what actions may cause damage to a scheduled monument.

Once a monument is scheduled, consent is required from us for most works, including repairs.

It’s vital to ensure that everyone working on your land knows about the scheduled monuments and their extent on the ground, and understands their value. This includes contractors, who may be less aware of local features. 

It is an offence to damage or carry out work, or to allow work to be carried out, on a scheduled monument without consent. 

Owners of scheduled monuments have no duty to maintain or improve management of their sites, though we do encourage this with advice and support available for those looking after monuments.

Through our Monument Management Fund, we offer funding that can cover the cost of simple improvements in management or maintenance.

About the Monument Management Fund  

You may also be able to access grants to support a variety of other projects involving scheduled monuments: We’re happy to advise on the availability of grants.

About HES grants

Many scheduled monuments are stable and require little attention.

Some will benefit from simple changes in land use that will ensure no inadvertent damage. Others will benefit from more proactive management. This will sometimes require access to specialist conservation skills.

We can fund a variety of works, including vegetation removal, fencing and small scale consolidation. On some occasions we can contribute to survey works and site interpretation, where this would benefit the long term management of a monument.

Our field officers visit scheduled sites and their owners from time to time. They check the condition of the site, offer advice on monument management and ensure that everyone with a current interest in the site knows about its protection.

The field officer can arrange for a heritage management officer to visit if there are issues that they can’t help with.

Owners and occupiers can download our free guide for more information about how we monitor scheduled monuments or contact us for advice at any time.

We can also provide a range of free signs for you to put up to tell anyone on your land about a scheduled monument and any activity they need to avoid. Get in touch and we will send signs out or arrange a visit.

Please note that you’re likely to need scheduled monument consent  if you are repairing a monument. It’s easy to damage a monument through well-intentioned action. Although we support positive management, most works are likely to need our consent before you can begin.

Find out more about scheduled monument consent

It is illegal to use a metal detector on a scheduled monument or protected place without consent. Restrictions on metal detecting are covered in the range of free signage we have available.

If someone asks you for permission to metal detect on a scheduled monument on your land, you should inform them that the site is legally protected and prior written permission from Historic Environment Scotland is required. Be sure that you and they are aware of the exact limits of the protected area on the ground.

If they ignore you, or simply start work without seeking permission, and you think they are on a scheduled monument, please contact Police Scotland as soon as possible. You should also contact us with the details.

Metal detecting advice and guidance

For more information or if you have any questions, please email us at hmenquiries@hes.scot or contact us by phone on 0131 668 8716