SCOTLAND’S largest operator of visitor attractions Historic Environment Scotland is offering free admission by pre-booking online, to its Historic Scotland winter ticketed sites the first Sunday of the month between now and March 2024.

And these include attractions in the Scottish Borders.

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The initiative was launched at the Forth Bridge, which is a designated world heritage site alongside global landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and President’s Heads in Mount Rushmore, is featured in the new campaign video which highlights the broad-spectrum heritage covers – from highstreets and industrial landmarks to visitor attractions and cultural venues.

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The bridge is shown as one of seven unique heritage sites that feature in the video, highlighting the diversity we see all around us, from the physical environments to intangible cultural heritage across the country.

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Scotland would be a very different place without the language, culture, buildings, and artefacts that have helped shape it. The campaign that we’ve launched today shows that heritage is everywhere; it's a living part of our world, that we come into contact with every day, and brings with it a number of benefits.

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“86% of people report a wellbeing benefit from engaging with heritage and the historic environment has a clear part in making a responsible contribution to the Scottish economy. Playing a vital role as we build a wellbeing economy, we need to recognise that our heritage matters.

“World-renowned for its historic places, archaeological sites, and ancient landscapes, the campaign helps us stop and appreciate the heritage that surrounds us, even in the unusual and less likely places. From the bridges we travel across to the culture and arts that have helped shaped our communities - they all form our historic environment.”

Borders venues taking part include: Dryburgh Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey and Melrose Abbey.

Non Borders venues include: Aberdour Castle, Arbroath Abbey, Blackness Castle , Bothwell Castle,Caerlaverock Castle, Craigmillar Castle, Dirleton Castle, Doune Castle, Duff House, Dumbarton Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Elgin Cathedral, Fort George, Huntingtower Castle, Huntly Castle, inlithgow Palace, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, New Abbey Corn Mill, Skara Brae , St Andrews Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, Stirling Castle, Tantallon Castle and Urquhart Castle.

Scotland’s historic environment was worth £4.6 billion to the economy pre-pandemic, welcoming over 18million visitors, and supports a number of areas from the reuse of historic buildings to contributing to Scotland’s net-zero targets.

For further information on the Historic Sundays campaign visit historicsundays.scot. Pre-booking is essential.