Scotland is world famous for its medieval castles and historical sites scattered throughout the country. Visit all of them is the best way to discover the interesting Scottish heritage and get the most of your stay there. For this reason, in this article I tell you more about the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass
How Historic Scotland Explorer Pass works?
Well, it’s quite easy to understand. This is a unique pass valid for visiting 77 sites across Scotland. These places are property of Historic Scotland, the official organisation responsible for many of the country’s castles, palaces, abbeys and prehistoric sites.
There’re three kinds of pass:
- available for 3 consecutive days;
- available for 7 consecutive days;
- available for 14 consecutive days.
In both cases, the pass becomes valid since the first use and you’re allowed to visit more than one site in the same day. Not only that, the Explorer Pass includes the fast track entry at Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle as well.
The Historic Scotland Explorer Pass attractions list
No matter which region of Scotland you’re visiting, from the Scottish Borders up to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, you’ll find some properties of Historic Scotland – now known as Historic Environment Scotland – where to go.
For example, in and near Edinburgh you can discover Craigmillar Castle, Aberdour Castle, Blackness Castle and Linlithow Palace (these last three sites are featured in Outlander tv series as well).
Having said that, below there’s the full Historic Scotland Explorer Pass attractions list:
- Aberdour Castle – The Kingdom of Fife
- Arbroath Abbey – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Argyll’s Lodging – Central and West
- Balvenie Castle – North and Grampian
- Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces – The Orkney Isles
- Blackhouse, Arnol – The Western Isles
- Blackness Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Bonawe Iron Furnace – Central and West
- Bothwell Castle, Uddingston – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Broch of Gurness – The Orkney Isles
- Brough of Birsay – The Orkney Isles
- Caerlaverock Castle – Dumfries and Galloway
- Cairnpapple Hill – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Calanais Standing Stones – The Western Isles
- Cardoness Castle – Dumfries and Galloway
- Castle Campbell – Central and West
- Corgarff Castle – North and Grampian
- Craigmillar Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Craignethan Castle – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Crichton Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Crossraguel Abbey – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery – North and Grampian
- Dirleton Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Doune Castle (Castle Leoch in Outlander) – Central and West
- Dryburgh Abbey – The Scottish Borders
- Duff House – North and Grampian
- Dumbarton Castle – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Dunblane Cathedral – Central and West
- Dundonald Castle – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Dundrennan Abbey – Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunfermline Abbey – The Kingdom of Fife
- Dunstaffnage Castle – Central and West
- Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Edzell Castle – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Elcho Castle – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Elgin Cathedral – North and Grampian
- Fort George – North and Grampian
- Glasgow Cathedral (Outlander tv series location) – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Glenluce Abbey – Dumfries and Galloway
- Hackness Tower & Battery – The Orkney Isles
- Hermitage Castle – The Scottish Borders
- Huntingtower Castle – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Huntly Castle – North and Grampian
- Inchcolm Abbey – The Kingdom of Fife
- Inchmahome Priory – Central and West
- Iona Abbey – Central and West
- Jarlshof – Shetland Islands
- Jedburgh Abbey – The Scottish Borders
- Kildrummy Castle – North and Grampian
- Kinnair Head Castle Lighthouse – North and Grampian
- Kisimul Castle – The Western Isles
- Linlithgow Palace – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Lochleven Castle – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- MacLellan’s Castle – Dumfries and Galloway
- Maeshowe* (Visits to Maeshowe are by guided tour only. Please call 01856 761 606 in advance for more information and booking) – The Orkney Isles
- Meigle Museum – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Melrose Abbey – The Scottish Borders
- New Abbey Corn Mill – Dumfries and Galloway
- Newark Castle – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Rothesay Castle – Glasgow, Clyde and Ayrshire
- Seton Collegiate Church – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Skara Brae & Skaill House – The Orkney Isles
- Smailholm Tower – The Scottish Borders
- Spynie Palace – North and Grampian
- St Andrews Castle – The Kingdom of Fife
- St Andrews Cathedral – The Kingdom of Fife
- St Serf’s Church – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- St Vigeans Sculptured Stones – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Stanley Mills – Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
- Stirling Castle – Central and West
- Sweetheart Abbey – Dumfries and Galloway
- Tantallon Castle – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Threave Castle – Dumfries and Galloway
- Tolquhon Castle – North and Grampian
- Trinity House – Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Urquhart Castle – North and Grampian
- Whithorn Priory – Dumfries and Galloway
Please note that a pre-booking is required at Trinity House Museum (call 0131 554 3289), Lochleven Castle (book on site or online), St Vigeans Sculptured Stones (call 01241 878 756) and Maeshowe Chambered Cairn (book on site or online).
Historic Scotland Explorer Pass prices and where to buy it
As I wrote before it’s possible to buy three types of Historic Scotland Explorer Pass depending on the length of your stay.
If you go for a short break then consider the pass valid for 3 days. In this case the fares are the following:
- adult, £33
- child (5-15), £21
- family (2 adults + up to 6 children), £66
- concessions (60+and students with ID), £26.50
- child (0-5), free
The, the pass valid for 7 consecutives days costs:
- adult, £40.00
- child (5-15), £26.00
- family (2 adults + up to 6 children), £80.00
- concessions (60+and students with ID), £32.00
- child (0-5), free
Last option available is the one for 14 days:
- adult, £45.00
- child (5-15), £29.00
- family (2 adults + up to 6 children), £90.00
- concessions (60+and students with ID), £36.00
- child (0-5), free
In both cases, you’ll get an information pack (brochures, guidebook and location map) as well.
Where to buy and collect the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass?
Well, you can purchase the pass at the first property you visit. However – especially during summertime – buying an Explorer Pass online in advance
To collect the pass you simply have to print the e-voucher received via email and exchange it in one of the properties of the list.
