Life is about discovery and in Scotland there’s so much we can explore to help us understand the past and our place in the world.
Historic Scotland Membership gives you access to some of Scotland’s most enduring places, and visits to these sites can be life changing experiences, with visitors able to learn and connect with Scottish history.
From ancient archeological sites to beautiful gardens and impressive castles our history has shaped our present.
Take the time to wander and quietly absorb their atmosphere to experience mindfulness that is good for the soul and can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Here’s some extraordinary places worth visiting - and you can seek out many more at discovermore.scot
Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace was once a majestic royal residence of the Stewarts, but today lies roofless and ruined yet entering the palace gates still inspires awe in visitors.
James I ordered work on the site in 1424 turning it into an elegant new ‘pleasure palace’ and rest stop for royals on the road between Stirling and Edinburgh Castles.
Skara Brae
Skara Brae is a Neolithic village in Orkney which is part of the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site in recognition of its profound importance.
No one knows why village life seems to have ended here around 2500 BC, however, thanks to a rich array of artefacts and natural remains discovered during archaeological excavations, we do know our ancestors were just like us.
Some finds include gaming dice, tools, pottery, and jewellery.
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries has a triangular shape which is unique among Scottish castles and a walk around the site gives a sense of its strength, economy of form and pleasing geometry.
Only thirty-five miles from the Anglo-Scottish border, it was a site of sieges and struggles during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 1300s.
The Queen Anne Garden
The Queen Anne Garden at Stirling Castle is a beautiful place of peace and reflection. Situated on the sunny side of the castle, it is overlooked by the Queen’s lodgings and the Prince’s Tower.
There has been a garden here since the 1400s and today visitors can shade beneath a lovely beech tree which is over 200 years old.
Aberdour Castle and Gardens
Aberdour Castle and Gardens, in Fife, was begun in the 1100s and went on to serve generations of three noble families.
Its ruined structures and roofed buildings show clearly how a medieval castle could be extended and adapted over time and Aberdour is among the oldest masonry castles still standing in Scotland. Look out for the attractive beehive-shaped dovecot.
Fort George
Fort George, by Ardersier near Inverness, is the finest example of 18th-century military engineering anywhere in the British Isles.
The Fort was one of the measures introduced to suppress Jacobite ambitions after the Battle of Culloden. It was intended as the main garrison fortress in the Scottish Highlands and named after George II.
Strategically located on a promontory jutting into the Moray Firth, the Fort was designed to resist attacks from artillery.
Ready to explore?
Become a Historic Scotland member from just £3.50 a month and enjoy exploring over 5000 years of history at castles, abbeys, cathedrals and more across Scotland.
Membership also helps preserve Scotland’s heritage now and for future generations.
