Plan your next adventure with Historic Scotland

Family Membership – which includes two adults with children – costs just £9.75 per month, while a Concession Membership is just £4.25 per month and a Young Person Membership is £3.20 per month, offering great value all round. Members also enjoy a free membership guide and quarterly members’ magazine, as well as a 20% discount in Historic Scotland shops and a 10% discount in their cafes. You also get access to exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and events.

Historic Scotland membership is your ticket to fun days out and fascinating educational trips this spring – and it offers great value for money too

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Get set for baa-rilliant family fun on a self-guided Easter trail. The lambs are loose across the hoose; can you search the castle to uncover the clues to help find them? You might even get a chocolatey reward! Tickets included in site admission; free for Historic Scotland members.

Heritage

The museum that is a window to its own treasures

Scotland’s public transport system offers great options for sustainable travel when exploring our fantastic museums and galleries. There are frequent train services between each of Scotland’s eight cities, and the rail network also links many towns and villages across the country. Taking the train or making the journey by bus or coach lets you sit back, relax and enjoy our beautiful scenery or focus on having fun with friends and family. And using public transport is much better for the environment too. ScotRail offers great-value train fares all year round, and you can save more by travelling off peak, booking in advance or availing of discounts for group bookings and railcards. The four main operators in Scotland — First, Stagecoach, Lothian Buses and National Express — and a number of independent operators run services between the main cities, towns and villages. For information on all services in and around Scotland's towns and cities, contact Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 22 33; travelinescotland.com

Let the train — or bus — take the strain

Hidden gems

Curiosities

Tranquillity

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Urquhart Castle

Lambs on the Loose! The Easter Trail

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This fascinating exhibition looks at how we can explore imperial histories, represent different voices and offer collective healing. It touches on themes such as belonging and reclaiming past and future narratives, and it explores how we might move forward together. Tickets included in site admission; free for members.

Traces of Empire Stanley Mills, Perth

As a valued Historic Scotland member, you can collect exclusive cards depicting Scotland’s amazing history when you visit one of their legendary staffed sites. There are seven standard cards with a rating of Craft, Power and Enchantment and your heroic quest is to collect all seven to earn yourself your History Hunt badge. Each year, Historic Scotland also releases an additional range of rare cards, available at limited sites for a short time. You’ll find this year’s ‘Sprightly Spring’ cards at Lambs on the Loose! events over the Easter weekend. Other cards are ‘Wise Women’ – celebrating women connected to Historic Scotland sites – ‘Southern Explorer’ and ‘Northern Wanderer’. And there is also a ‘Summer of Champions’ card to celebrate the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow, as well as the FIFA World Cup this summer.

History Hunter

Visit alittlehistory.scot for more information about membership benefits and events

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Future Making © Fakhriya Abdulkadir

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Meet some unicorns in the beautiful Queen Anne Gardens and learn more about Scotland's national animal. Enjoy craft activities and stories about the mythical beasts found all over Scotland, then join everyone’s favourite jester on a treasure hunt! Tickets included in site admission; free for members.

Unicorn & Friends, Stirling Castle

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Explore Scotland's complex imperial history and how the legacy of forced displacement of people is embedded in some of our oldest sites. Curated by Dr Cat Dunn, this exhibition combines archival material with newly commissioned artwork. Tickets included in admission; free for members.

Archaeology & Empire, Stirling Castle

Membership entitles you to discounted entry to hundreds of heritage attractions across England and Wales, with free entry to these sites for renewing members. Tony Brown, a retired manager, was recently given a gift of membership by his family. “I’d been talking about all the places I’ve visited so far and the ones I’d love to see. They knew it was the perfect gift." He adds: “Everything about these ancient buildings is fascinating: how they were built, who designed them, who paid for them and who worked on them. There are so many questions once you start to really think about it and I just love that. “It’s great that Historic Scotland’s website is organised by region, as it makes it super-easy to plan a trip that takes in several different sites. I can’t wait to get started.” Brown, who is from Edinburgh, has already visited sites including St Andrews Castle in Fife and Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey in the Borders. His favourite so far, however, is Edinburgh Castle. “It is an incredible building, steeped in history and the stories of our past,” Brown says. “Visiting the Scottish National War Memorial there really stayed with me, and the Royal Scots Regimental Museum is a special place too, as my Grandad and other relatives served in the Royal Scots.” Brown is delighted that his membership helps to support Historic Scotland’s vital work protecting and conserving more than 300 sites around the country. The charity also cares for valuable collections and archives, as well as training more craftspeople to keep traditional skills alive and adapting to the challenge of climate change.

Become a

“The stories of our past – from our grandparents all the way back to our earliest ancestors – are written in these places,” he adds. “We owe it to them to make sure they are cared for properly, so that they can be shared and enjoyed now and in the future, and a membership is a great way to help with that.” Why not sign up for a membership today and start planning your next visit?

Musician Andrew Bachell was inspired to volunteer at Huntingtower Castle, in Perthshire, after being struck by the building’s acoustic qualities on a visit. Initially he focused on composing and performing music as part of his Masters degree in Music and the Environment, but he now plays at advertised events – adding to the atmosphere as visitors explore the site. “We don’t set up chairs for people to sit; it’s not a performance but a part of their visit and the music just drifts through the whole building. There are no doors, so the sound goes from the basement right up to the roof; it’s wonderful the way the music moves around,” explains Bachell, who plays a wooden flute, mandolin and guitar. “We can only imagine what music might have been played at the castle, so the intention was just to play something that gives people a feeling of the age and history of the place. It’s about bringing people’s stories into these places and that’s what I love about volunteering for Historic Scotland. When you can relate to other people’s lives, these incredible buildings come alive in quite different ways.”

Volunteer strikes a chord with visitors

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Historic Scotland has an amazing line-up of events planned for spring and summer. To avoid disappointment, book tickets online in advance to guarantee entry, as the most popular sites tend to be busy. Here are some of the highlights taking place over the next few months.

Various venues, April 3-6

April 4 – June 28

April 11 & 12, 11am-5pm

April 25-July 20

April 15, 11am-4pm

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Take a self-guided tour of the house and enjoy free activities including drop-in crafts and children's games. Suitable for all ages.

Easter at Trinity House, Leith, Edinburgh

May 23 & 24, 12-4pm

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Watch fearless Viking warriors in thrilling clashes, then wander around the living history camp and find out how they lived and how they made weapons and clothes. Tickets included in admission; free for members.

Viking Invasion: Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban, Argyll

June 20 & 21, 12pm-4pm

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Head to the castle to meet some Viking warriors, and find out more about their weapons and invasion techniques. Discover what life was like for these seafaring Norsemen and why they were at Dumbarton. Tickets included in admission; free for members.

Visiting Vikings: Dumbarton Castle, Dunbartonshire

June 20 & 21, 12pm

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The Gordons of Huntly fought for hundreds of years for the Stuart Kings of Scotland, before the castle was destroyed. Visit these spectacular ruins, meet some of the royalists who defended the castle in 1647, and see their weapons. Tickets included in admission; free for members.

A Castle for the King: Huntly Castle, Aberdeenshire

Linlithgow Palace, West LothianJune 27 & 28, 11.30am-4.30pm

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Experience exhilarating horsemanship and impressive jousting skills as four brave and courageous knights battle for victory. Wander through the living history camp to experience life in medieval times; admire beautiful birds of prey in flight and watch the antics of the court jesters. Tickets free for members.

Spectacular Jousting

Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfries July 25 & 26, 11am-4pm

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Visit Caerlaverock Castle for a weekend of medieval entertainment at the annual jousting tournament. Support your hero as the daring knights battle it out in a dramatic show of bravery and skill, and wander through the colourful encampments to experience medieval life first-hand.

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Spring is the ideal time to discover Scotland’s rich history and landscapes, and a visit to any of Historic Scotland’s sites makes a worthwhile adventure for the whole family. With a wealth of places to explore – from ancient fortresses to medieval castles and abbeys – it's easy to find something for everyone. Spending time outdoors is also a great way to reconnect and boost your wellbeing. Making unforgettable memories doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Historic Scotland membership gives free entry to more than 70 sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle as well as daytime events across the country.

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