Online booking opens today (Wednesday, April 14) for some of Scotland’s most iconic sites, as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) prepares to open the gates to allow visitors to enjoy over 5,000 years of history.
The historic sites – which include Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle – will reopen on Friday, 30 April following the Scottish Government’s proposed dates for the reopening of the tourism sector and mainland Scotland moving to level three of its routemap out of lockdown.
Tickets must be booked online in advance from the HES website. To book tickets, visit: restarthistory.scot
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5. Dirleton Castle
Dating to the 13th century, this medieval fortress sits just a couple of miles west of North Berwick and is one of Scotland’s oldest surviving strongholds. Open from late April. Photo: Shutterstock
6. Doune Castle
A mecca for Monty Python fans since its inclusion in the 1975 hit Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Doune Castle in Stirling has firmly established itself as a prime location for directors on the hunt for historic backdrops. In recent years it has also appeared in Game of Thrones, Outlander, and Outlaw King. Movie and castle lovers will be able to visit it from next month. Photo: Contributed
7. Dryburgh Abbey
Nestled on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, this medieval ruin dates back to 1150. Open from late April. Photo: Shutterstock
8. Dunblane Cathedral
Opening in late April, Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland. The lower half of the tower is pre-Romanesque from the 11th century, with an upper part added in the 15th century. Photo: Michael Gillen