What’s happening

Some of Scotland’s most iconic heritage sites set to offer free admission this winter

Some of Scotland’s most iconic heritage sites, such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Dumbarton Castle, Doune Castle, and Duff House, will welcome visitors for free this winter.

Scottish residents are invited to explore the country’s rich heritage with Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Historic Sundays. For six months, people can get free admission to participating Historic Scotland visitor attractions, which is part of Historic Environment Scotland, on the first Sunday of the month (1 October 2023 through to 3 March 2024). People living in Scotland can access Historic Scotland’s winter ticketed sites by simply pre-booking online and showing their proof of address on arrival.

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HES, said:

“With over 5,000 years of history in our care, our historic buildings and monuments can tell us so much about the past, and how it continues to shape our world today, from being the backdrop to film locations to attracting millions of people from around the world and closer to home.

We think it’s vital people living in Scotland feel history belongs to us all, and through our Historic Sundays initiative we hope more people will take the opportunity to discover the history on their doorstep, or explore further afield to sites they may not have seen until now. Engaging with heritage has lots of proven benefits, including wellbeing, and we very much hope people take the opportunity to explore these sites and be part of history.”

The winter Historic Scotland ticketed sites, which ordinarily charge an entry fee, include Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots; the historic barracks and fortifications of Fort George; and Skara Brae, the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe.

Advance online booking is required. For a list of participating Historic Scotland sites, and to book visit historicsundays.scot.

Image © Rob McDougall