Access to historic sites for just £1

The £1 entry offer will apply across Scotland at some of the country’s best known historic sites, including Edinburgh Castle.

The initiative encourages young people to get out and explore many of the historic sites Scotland has to offer.

With natural and built sites across the country there’s an experience for everyone to enjoy, from stunning landscapes through to castles, magnificent gardens, historic dwellings, and significant places, such as the battlefields on which the nation’s future turned.

The £1 offer means that anyone aged 11-25 with a Young Scot National Entitlement Card will be able to visit 100 National Trust for Scotland properties, such as the spectacular Culzean Castle in Ayrshire and the carefully restored Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

It also enables access to over 70 Historic Environment Scotland properties across the length and breadth of the country, including iconic sites such as Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

In addition to offering £1 entry to all National Trust for Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland sites, Young Scot National Entitlement Card holders can also access the following Historic Houses Scotland sites this year: Inveraray Castle, Ballindalloch Castle, Blair Castle, Hopetoun House, Cawdor Castle, Floors Castle and Drummond Castle.

Originally introduced in 2018, the initiative has seen young people across the country save hundreds of thousands of pounds in entry fees to enjoy and explore Scotland’s rich and historic heritage.

Philip Long OBE, chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland, said: “The last two years have been a challenging time for all of us and exploration of the beautiful places Scotland has to offer was a cherished respite.

"Now that we are largely free from restrictions, we hope to welcome more people back to our sites and encourage young people with a Young Scot card to get out there and explore the wealth of places available to them across the country.

“At the Trust we know how much of a positive impact access to Scotland’s heritage can have on well-being and happiness and we hope to share this with the next generation - something so important to us that we’ve made engagement with young people one of our key aims in our new strategy, Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone.

"Since 2018, we’ve seen many young people at our sites reaping the benefits of the reduced £1 entry and we look forward to welcoming many more in the coming months.”

Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive of Young Scot, welcomed the reintroduction of the initiative, which she said would make it easier for young people to visit historic locations across Scotland this summer.

She also pointed out that it will be even easier to visit due to the introduction of free bus travel for young people in Scotland.

The scheme offers anyone under the age of 22 free travel throughout Scotland and is open to children and young people with a new National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC.

Transport Scotland launched an app, ‘Transport Scot Pass Collect’, which allows people aged 16-21 to add free bus travel on to their existing national entitlement card (NEC) or Young Scot card, without having to apply for a replacement. Parental permission required for children under the age of 16.

Kirsten said: “Young Scot is delighted to be continuing our partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and Historic Houses Scotland – and supporting young people to access Scotland’s remarkable historic sites using their free Young Scot National Entitlement Card.

"If they are under 22 years old, they are also eligible for free nationwide bus travel using their card, making it even easier to enjoy the hundreds of historic sites Scotland offers.”

Alex Paterson, chief executive at Historic Environment Scotland said: "This summer I would like to encourage as many of Scotland’s young people as possible to take advantage of this initiative and explore some of our much-loved heritage attractions, from castles to cairns, and enjoy our rich and diverse historic environment and the many benefits it brings.”

Andrew Hopetoun, chairman of Historic Houses Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to be involved with this initiative.

"We represent the nation’s largest collection of independently-owned historic houses and gardens and are here to ensure these historic homes stay alive for generations to come

"Making these sites more accessible to young people is of huge importance to us and we hope that Young Scot card holders enjoy exploring our fascinating homes.”

Young Scot Card holders aged 11-25 will be able to access more than 600 sites across the country.

Since the scheme first started in 2018, sites including Crathes Castle, Pollok House and Brodick Castle have proven to be most popular with Young Scot National Entitlement Card holders.

To find out more and explore the full list of properties and locations available as part of the scheme, please visit all participating organisations’ websites: nts.org.uk, https://www.historicenvironment.scot/ or historichouses.org, or visit young.scot/the-young-scot-card for more information on the National Entitlement Card.