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Historic Summer

Visit for less this summer with 20% off tickets for our sites!*

Four people, including two children, walk across a grassy field toward the camera in front of a white building with the words "New Abbey Corn Mill" painted on the wall, with trees and a stone wall in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Plan historic days out to enjoy this summer

With our Historic Summer offer, you can visit selected sites for less between Friday 26 June and Tuesday 1 September. From awe-inspiring abbeys and captivating castles to formidable forts, history across the country is ready to welcome you.

*Exclusions apply please refer to our consumer terms (see section 20) for further details.

Sites you can visit

To find out opening times and accessibility information, select the site names below. To book your discounted tickets, click “Buy tickets” under the site you’re visiting. Please note, this offer is for UK residents only and proof of address may be requested upon arrival at the site.

Aberdour Castle and Gardens

Aberdour Castle is possibly Scotland's oldest standing castle, once grand enough for a Regent of Scotland.

Arbroath Abbey

Visit the Medieval Powerhouse exhibition, learn the stories about the Declaration of Arbroath and see the copy of the Stone of Destiny.

Balvenie Castle

One of Scotland’s oldest stone castles, Balvenie Castle served three of the nation's most powerful dynasties.

Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, Kirkwall

Discover Kirkwall's oldest surviving domestic building along with its ornate and ambitious neighbour.

Blackhouse, Arnol

Gain a unique insight into island life at Arnol Blackhouse, a traditional, fully furnished thatched house that once sheltered a family and its animals under the same roof.

Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace

Plan your visit to Bonawe Iron Furnace, the most complete charcoal-fuelled ironworks in Britain.

Bothwell Castle

Visit Bothwell Castle, a dramatic site hotly fought over during the Wars of Independence with England.

Broch of Gurness

Explore Broch of Gurness: an impressive Iron Age complex, and an icon of Orkney’s rich archaeological heritage.

Caerlaverock Castle

Visit the epitome of the medieval stronghold: Caerlaverock Castle has a wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements.

Cairnpapple Hill

Plan your visit to Cairnpapple Hill where you can explore a rare ceremonial complex and henge.

Castle Campbell

Visit one of Scotland's most dramatic castles, nestled in the Dollar Glen

Corgarff Castle

Plan your visit to Corgarff Castle where you can unravel the two very different tales of this medieval tower house.

Craigmillar Castle

Step inside Edinburgh’s ‘other castle’, once a rural retreat from Scotland’s capital. Craigmillar Castle was close to the political cauldron of the capital, yet pleasantly separate from it.

Crossraguel Abbey

Even though it was intended as a peaceful place of worship, this Ayrshire monastery saw its fair share of conflict.

Dirleton Castle

This magnificent fortress–residence served three successive noble families over 400 years. Badly damaged in Cromwell’s 1650 siege, Dirleton’s fortunes were revived by its new owners in the 1660s.

Doune Castle

Marvel at the grandeur of Doune Castle, and walk in the footsteps of rulers both real and fictional.

Dryburgh Abbey

Grasp the appeal of monastic life by exploring this medieval ruin by the River Tweed.

Duff House

Visit this splendid early Georgian mansion with a unique and gripping history.

Dumbarton Castle

Climb volcanic Dumbarton Rock and conquer the mighty fortress which has guarded the Firth of Clyde for centuries.

Dundrennan Abbey

Now a ruin, visit the 12th-century Dundrennan Abbey which was home to a community of Cistercian monks for 400 years.

Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel

Visit one of Scotland's oldest stone castles built before 1240 on a huge rock above the Firth of Lorn, near Oban.

Elgin Cathedral

Explore one of Scotland’s most ambitious and beautiful medieval buildings, Elgin Cathedral.

Fort George

Stand in awe of Fort George, one of the most outstanding fortifications in Europe. It was built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden as a secure base for King George II’s army.

Glenluce Abbey

Plan your visit to Glenluce Abbey, and discover 400 years of monastic life.

Hermitage Castle

Visit Hermitage Castle and its history filled with intrigue, murder, torture and treason!

Huntingtower Castle

Visit the castle where Mary Queen of Scots honeymooned with Lord Darnley.

Huntly Castle

Visit the seat of one of medieval and Renaissance Scotland’s most powerful families.

Iona Abbey and Nunnery

Positioned on a tiny isle off the coast of Mull, Iona Abbey is one of Scotland’s most sacred sites.

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement

This Shetland headland was the ideal place to settle for communities spanning several millennia.

Jedburgh Abbey

Explore one of four great abbeys established in the Scottish Borders in the 1100s.

Kildrummy Castle

Kildrummy Castle was once the powerful stronghold of the Earls of Mar and one of the most important castles in northern Scotland.

Linlithgow Palace

Explore the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots' birthplace. Linlithgow Palace was once a superb Renaissance residence, built and added to by the Stewart kings.

Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum

Learn about Pictish society from a striking set of 26 carved stones.

Melrose Abbey

Visit Melrose Abbey, a magnificent ruin once beloved by Robert the Bruce.

New Abbey Corn Mill

See this 18th-century water-powered mill spring to life to show how oatmeal was made.

Newark Castle

Visit Newark Castle, a rediscovered treasure once eclipsed by great shipyards.

Rothesay Castle

Plan your visit to Rothesay Castle, well known for its long connection with the Stewart kings of Scotland.

Seton Collegiate Church

Walk in the peaceful setting of one of Scotland's finest medieval collegiate churches.

Skara Brae

Visit Skara Brae and explore the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe.

Smailholm Tower

Discover the 15th-century laird’s residence that inspired Sir Walter Scott.

St Andrews Castle

Explore a castle caught in the Protestant Reformation struggle for hearts and minds. St Andrews Castle was a bishop’s palace, a fortress and a state prison during its 450-year history.

St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Museum

View the 38 Pictish stones found in St Vigeans, a sleepy village that was once the centre of a royal estate and of huge religious importance.

Stanley Mills

Discover one of the best-preserved relics of the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s.

Stirling Castle

Visit Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's greatest stone castles, key to the story of Scotland's past.

Tantallon Castle

Set high on a cliff edge and featuring a massive red sandstone curtain wall, Tantallon Castle was home to the Red Douglas dynasty.

Threave Castle

Watch a forbidding island fortress come into view as you cross the River Dee by boat to Threave Castle.

Tolquhon Castle

Visit one of Grampian’s most picturesque castles.

Urquhart Castle

Visit one of Scotland's most magnificent and iconic castles, located on the shores of Loch Ness.

Historic Summer FAQs

Have questions? Take a look at our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions

read our FAQs
Three costumed re-enactors dressed as Romans with red capes, armour and a rectangular shield. They standing in a grassy knoll, the remains of an ancient Roman fortification. As an amusing paradox, one of the Romans is holding a modern tablet device, and showing his companions the contents on screen.

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