Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart castles to reopen in August

Some of Scotland’s biggest tourist attractions are getting ready to reopen with tickets now available for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart castles will open their doors to the public on August 1, albeit with limited visitor numbers.

Tickets for the first two weeks are now available with bookable time slots now introduced.

This, along with expected demand for places, means visitors will need to book in advance with parking slots also bookable at Stirling and Urquhart castles.

Regular attendees can also expect some changes to their usual experience including one-way systems to maintain physical distancing and enclosed spaces being closed off to visitors.

A spokesperson for Historic Scotland said: “We want to make sure our historic sites can be enjoyed whilst ensuring the experience is safe for everyone.

“The health and wellbeing of our members, visitors and staff are our key priority so we have introduced measures to make everyone feel comfortable.”

The castles will also take a phased approach to reopening and not all of the facilities will be open immediately.

However, The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle, Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle and partial access to the Grant Tower at Urquhart Castle will all be accessible to visit.