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The History Hunt

Visit our legendary sites, collect your cards and become a true History Hunter.

Two children playing a trading game with sets of colourful "history hunt" cards in front of a castle.

How it works

All of our staffed sites has one of seven specific collectible cards, only available to Historic Scotland members. If you want to be a History Hunter, your quest is to collect them all.

Every card has a rating of Craft, Power and Enchantment, so once you've got your hands on a full set you can challenge your friends to a showdown and see who’s the greatest History Hunter of them all!

Make sure to ask for your card sleeve when collecting your first card so you can keep them ­all together. When you've collected all seven cards, you'll be knighted a true History Hunter. Show your full set to a member of staff to get your official History Hunter badge

Each year, we also make a handful of limited-edition rare cards available. You can find out on this page where and when to collect them.

Close up of a girl holding a colourful set of "history hunt" playing cards and wearing a special pin badge.
Children at a castle holding their "history hunt" playing cards at arms length.
A child holds up a sleeve designed for holding "history hunt" playing cards and a special pin badge awarded to those who have collected all the cards.

Where to go history hunting

The lists below tell you which sites have the card that you seek. If you don’t want doublers, you'll have to head somewhere new!

You can collect a "Formidable Fortress" card at the following sites:

You can collect a "Sacred Site" card at the following sites. At the moment, St Andrews Cathedral cards should be collected from St Andrews Castle.

You can collect a "Halls of History" card at the following sites:

You can collect a "Tall Tower" card at the following sites. At the moment, St Andrews Cathedral cards should be collected from St Andrews Castle.

You can collect a "Icons of Industry" card at the following sites:

You can collect a "Social Settlement" card at the following sites:

You can collect a "Spellbound Stones" card at the following sites. Cards can be collected from Brodgar and Stenness between May and September.

Rare cards!

Each year, we release a limited number of rare cards to enhance your History Hunt collection. You can collect rare cards at special events and anniversary celebrations across the country.  These will be available for a short time only, so make the most of your Membership and collect them at the below sites and events in 2026. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Explore where you can find our rare cards below.

Collect these rare cards during the Commonwealth Games and Football World Cup (June & July) at the following sites: 

Collect your rare Northern Wanderer card before they run out at the following sites: 

Collect your rare Southern Explorer before they run out at the following sites: 

Collect your rare Wise Women card before they run out at the following sites: 

Collect your rare First Footing card during January 2027 at the following sites: 

Get in touch

If you have any questions about our History Hunt cards, please feel free to contact us on members@hes.scot or speak to a member of staff on site.

A family at a castle, with the children holding colourful "history hunt" playing cards.

More from membership

Members Magazine

Our much-loved Historic Scotland magazine lands on doorsteps nationwide every quarter. Members can also download past issues or read online.

Members Podcast

Join actor and storyteller Sarah MacGillivray for the Historic Scotland podcast, recorded at Scotland's amazing historic sites. Members get early access and exclusive extra content.

Gift membership

A Historic Scotland gift membership is the perfect present for lovers of Scotland and Scottish history.