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Living History

During your visit look out for our living history characters. They will be on hand to tell you more about the site, the character and time period they are portraying as well as posing for photos!

A costumed performer in chain mail with helmet and shield, looking stern sitting on concrete stairs

Living History this Easter 

Join us over the Easter Holidays to meet characters from Scotland's past! A few sites across Scotland will be welcoming our living history performers on various days. Discover stories from turbulent times, learn how we lived, and what might’ve taken place at our sites. Our living history characters will even be happy to pose for photos with you and your families, although you might need to explain what a ‘selfie’ is first - they might be confused by the technology!

All that you need to do is pick a site and use your Historic Scotland Membership to meet characters from Scotland’s past! They’ll be at the below sites on selected days from Saturday 4 April: 

  • Aberdour Castle: 4, 5, 6, 14 & 15 April
  • Blackness Castle: 4 to 8 April
  • Caerlaverock Castle: 4, 5, 6, 12 & 13 April
  • Craigmillar Castle: 
    • Medieval Forager (4 & 11 April) - come meet one of the local healing women with a knowledge of the wilds and uses of her plants for food and medicine and some unexpected uses; like beauty and even navigation.
    • Medieval Man-at-Arms (5 April) - meet our medieval man-at-arms. What is he wearing and what will he use to defend his Lord.  Is it better to be one of the Lords men, or a sword for hire?
    • Medieval Calligrapher (6, 12 & 19 April) - come and meet our Medieval Calligrapher. Are you lucky enough to be able to read and write? Learn about being a scribe and how to make the ink they used and what are they writing on.
    • Medieval Barber Surgeon (13 April) - are you feeling slightly off colour? Would you like the Medieval Barber Surgeon to take a look. Come along and see how the understanding of medicinal plants was used to cure daily diseases and how they dealt with battle wounds.
    • Medieval Castle Servant (18 April) - meet a medieval lady and learn what it took to survive these times. What would she do in the castle or local village. Learn some of her crafts.
  • Doune Castle: 4 to 6 April
  • Dumbarton Castle: 4, 5, 6, 11 & 12 April
  • Dunfermline Abbey: 4 to 6 April
  • Dunstaffnage Castle: 
    • Medieval Blacksmith (4 & 5 April) - what was a blacksmith and why were they essential to Medieval life. Learn about Smiths' tools and skills. How did they pull a sword from a stone?
    • Viking Metal Worker (6 April) - learn about metal working and what metals were available to a Viking. What was their daily life like? Are they here to invade or trade?
    • Viking Crafts (12 April) - learn about the Vikings as traders. What crafts did they practice and how did that help them trade, rather than attack the lands that they discovered
    • Georgian Castle Inhabitant (19 April) - join our lady from Georgian times and learn about castle life in the 18th Century. How did she spend her day? What was it like and what did she wear?
  • Elgin Cathedral: 4 to 6 April
  • Fort George: 
    • Powder Sgt (18th-Century Redcoat) - 4 to 6 April. Meet Sgt Hugh Fraser, the Powder Sergeant at the King’s mighty fort. Responsible for the gunpowder for more than 80 heavy guns and 1,600 soldiers, discover the life of a redcoat: long guard duties, cramped quarters, and harsh Highland weather. 
    • Call to the Farms! (WW2 Land Girl) - 10 April. Working long, demanding days to keep Britain fed during World War II, the Land Girls answered the call. Discover their vital role in maintaining the nation’s food supply.
    • Who Will Answer the King’s Call? (Napoleonic Recruiting Sgt) - 11 & 12 April. Volunteers are needed for the King’s Army as Britain stands against the advances of Boney. Will you answer the King’s call and take the King’s shilling?
    • Home Garrison (WW1/WW2 Seaforth Highlander) - 17 to 19 April. For over 80 years, Fort George was home to the Seaforth Highlanders. Discover what life was like within the fort and learn about service in one of Scotland’s most famous Highland regiments.
  • Linlithgow Palace: 4 to 7 April
  • Melrose Abbey: 4 to 6 April
  • St Andrews Castle: 4, 5, 6, 10 & 12 April
  • Tantallon Castle: 4 to 6  April
  • Urquhart Castle: everyday from 4 to 19 April
    • The mighty stronghold on the shores of Loch Ness will host a medieval knight Mondays to Fridays. While his armour might not be shining, he’ll be able to illuminate what life was like as a medieval soldier. At the weekend other characters from the long history of Urquhart will be able to tell you all about life in this highland stronghold.

Living History is included in site admission, which is free for Historic Scotland Members. Not a Member? Join now to start enjoying benefits

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