Explore

over 5,000 years of history in just a few days with our Explorer Pass

Buy your pass

Overview

Our Explorer Pass is the perfect way to dive into Scotland’s fascinating history and heritage and explore many of our properties.

The pass is valid for 14 consecutive days. The pass includes entry to Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles, Skara Brae, and Fort George.

The number of Explorer Passes is limited. They often sell out a week or more in advance, so please plan ahead.

Find out where you can use your Explorer Pass on the Sites you can visit tab above.

Winter Offer

From 1 November 2024 you can take advantage of our winter offer.

Receive a discount on your Explorer Pass and visit any of our 30+ sites open throughout the winter months at no extra cost. First date of use must be on or before 31 March 2025, any unused passes will expire thereafter. The discount will be applied at checkout once you have selected dates between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Exclusions 

Explorer Passes do not include access to the following:

  • Properties in the care of The National Trust for Scotland
  • Members of the Historic Houses Association
  • The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey 
  • Or properties in the care of private trusts including Calanais Visitor Centre and Kinnaird Head Lighthouse

Frequently Asked Questions

Explorer Pass Terms and Conditions

How it works

How it works

  • The pass is valid for 14 consecutive days from your selected start date
  • It includes entry to all of our open properties
  • The pass is available to purchase online
  • Book your visit online in advance 
    • Carers do not require a pass, simply book a carer ticket for each site you are visiting

Benefits

  • Visit all our sites with one pass
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Pre-book your visits
Prebook your visits

Sites you can visit

We strongly recommend checking the opening days and times of the sites you would like to visit prior to purchasing your pass. Use the links below to check opening times, and any access restrictions and make your advance bookings: 

Aberdour Castle and Gardens

Arbroath Abbey 

Balvenie Castle (summer only)

Biggar Gasworks Museum (summer only) 

Bishop's & Earls Palaces, Kirkwall (summer only)

Blackhouse, Arnol

Blackness Castle

Bothwell Castle

Broch of Gurness (summer only)

Caerlaverock Castle 

Cairnpapple Hill (summer only)

Castle Campbell (summer only)

Corgarff Castle (summer only)

Craigmillar Castle

Dirleton Castle

Doune Castle

Dryburgh Abbey

Duff House

Dumbarton Castle

Dundrennan Abbey (summer only) 

Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel

Edinburgh Castle

Elcho Castle (summer only)

Elgin Cathedral

Fort George

Glenluce Abbey (summer only)

Hackness Martell Tower & Battery (summer only)

Hermitage Castle (summer only)

Huntingtower Castle

Huntly Castle

Inchcolm Abbey (summer only)

Inchmahome Priory (summer only)

Iona Abbey 

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement

Jedburgh Abbey

Kildrummy Castle (summer only)

Kinneil House

Linlithgow Palace 

Lochleven Castle (summer only)

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

Melrose Abbey 

New Abbey Corn Mill

Newark Castle (summer only)

Rothesay Castle

Skara Brae 

Smailholm Tower (summer only)

Spynie Palace (summer only) 

St Andrews Castle

St Andrews Cathedral

St Vigeans Stones and Museum (summer only)

Stanley Mills (summer only)

Stirling Castle 

Tantallon Castle

Tolquhon Castle (summer only)

Trinity House (summer only)

Urquhart Castle

Prices

Visit more, save more!

Prices from 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025

Pass types Definition Price
Adult Aged 16-64yrs £40.00
Concession Aged 65yrs+, full-time students (with valid ID) and unemployed (proof of Universal Credit or other qualifying benefit required) £32.00
Child Aged 7-15yrs. Under 7s free. Children must be accompanied by an adult £24.00
Family 2 adults and up to 3 children (7-15yrs) £80.00

Now all there’s left to do is enjoy exploring

Buy your Explorer Pass
Historic Scotland

Pass Benefits

  • A green circle with a see through tick symbol in the middle

    Free admission

    Free entry to all Historic Scotland sites that are open

  • A green circle with a see through tick symbol in the middle

    Great Value for money

    Includes entry to Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles plus many more sites

  • A green circle with a see through tick symbol in the middle

    Discounted audio guide

    20% discount on audio tours at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and Glasgow Cathedral

  • A green circle with a see through tick symbol in the middle

    Guaranteed entry

    Just pre-book your ticket with your explorer pass online before you visit

  • A green circle with a see through tick symbol in the middle

    Winter Offer

    Discount on pass prices 1 Nov 2024 to 31 Mar 2025

Family walking along beach towards Blackness Castle