Historic Sundays

Historic Sundays gives everyone living in Scotland free access to our sites on the first Sunday of the month from October 2026 to March 2027.

Young girl in a pink jacket standing in a stone archway overlooking the sea.

Never visited one of our sites before? Now is your chance

We want everyone to enjoy a great day out at our sites, because we believe history belongs to us all! Whether you’ve not visited before due to cost, or you feel history isn’t for you, this is your opportunity to visit some of the most iconic sites across Scotland. Join us on the first Sunday of every month*, until March 2027, and get free entry to sites near you.

This offer is online only, tickets must be booked in advance. Proof of address may be required on arrival.

Tickets for Sunday 4 October are available now. If you don’t get tickets this time round more will be available next month. Keep an eye on this page for participating sites and to book your Historic Sundays tickets.

For more information on our sites, including opening times and access, visit historicenvironment.scot/visit (this page will open in a new tab).

* Our January Historic Sunday will be on Sunday 10 January 2027 rather than the first Sunday of the month which falls during the festive period.

Historic Sundays FAQs | Terms & Conditions (see section 20)

Sites you can visit

Visit sites near you, and beyond, and get ready to find your place in history

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.

Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle's mighty fortifications make this 15th-century castle look like a ‘ship that never sailed’. It's now a star of the screen.

Caerlaverock Castle

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

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.

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.

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.

Edinburgh Castle

Discover a world-famous icon. Perched on a volcanic plug, Edinburgh Castle has dominated the skyline of Scotland’s capital city for centuries.

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.

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.

Jedburgh Abbey

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

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.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

Enter Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, one of the finest Neolithic buildings in north-west Europe, a masterpiece of ancient engineering.

Melrose Abbey

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

Rothesay Castle

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

Skara Brae

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

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.

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.

Urquhart Castle

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

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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Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for frequent visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man
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Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online
Buy now View details