Heritage body Historic Scotland is holding a special Spring promotion with 5,000 half-price tickets to Edinburgh Castle and 5,000 free tickets to historic places across the country up for grabs.
The ticket giveaway, on either Saturday 12th or Sunday 13th March, could mean a saving of around £26.30 for a family of two adults and three children.
Historic Scotland cares for over 345 heritage properties and sites throughout Scotland, 78 of which are paid-entry. A total of 44 paid-for attractions will be taking in the free-entry days including Stirling and Urquhart Castles, Fort George, Linlithgow Palace (pictured above), the Border Abbeys, and Skara Brae.
How to get the freebies
After registering at www.ticketgiveaway.co.uk you will be sent an email with a voucher to present on arrival at your chosen attraction. Proof of ID will be required to redeem the voucher.
Historic Scotland says that having a free ticket means that on their day out at one of the participating attractions, a family of two adults and three children can save up to £26.60 (the normal cost for the party at Urquhart Castle).
The half-price entry at Edinburgh Castle brings the normal admission cost of £52.60 for two adults and three children down to just £26.30.
Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP, said: “Scotland boasts a wealth of wonderful historic properties; they are an invaluable national asset. I firmly believe we should all make the most of this important part of our heritage by experiencing and enjoying these superb sites and Historic Scotland’s ticket giveaway provides an opportunity to do just that. There are over forty leading visitor attractions across the country to choose from so I hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this excellent chance to explore one of Scotland’s great heritage treasures and enjoy a free and memorable day out.”
Historic Scotland Head of Commercial and Visitor Operations Stephen Duncan said: “Our free ticket giveaway, which ties in with Scottish Tourism Week (28th February to 4th March) and heralds the start of the new visitor season, aims to highlight the range and quality of the visitor attractions Historic Scotland operates.
“Our last free admission promotion in November unfortunately coincided with dreadful winter weather when many of our attractions were forced to close or limit opening hours. We hope that this special Spring ticket giveaway will give the Scottish public another chance to visit a great historic attraction for free or to enjoy half price entry to Edinburgh Castle.
Historic Scotland Properties to Visit for Free on 12 or 13 March
EDINBURGH AND LOTHIANS
Blackness Castle
Craigmillar Castle
Dirleton Castle and Gardens
Linlithgow Palace
Tantallon Castle
SCOTTISH BORDERS
Dryburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Smailholm Tower
FIFE
Aberdour Castle and Gardens
Dunfermline Abbey and Palace
St Andrews Cathedral
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Caerlaverock Castle
Cardoness Castle
Dundrennan Abbey
New Abbey Corn Mill
Sweetheart Abbey
GLASGOW, CLYDE AND AYRSHIRE
Bothwell Castle
Craignethan Castle
Dumbarton Castle
Rothesay Castle
CENTRAL AND WEST
Castle Campbell and Garden
Doune Castle
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel
Iona Abbey
Stirling Castle
PERTHSHIRE, KINROSS AND ANGUS
Arbroath Abbey
Edzell Castle and Garden
Huntingtower Castle
Stanley Mills
St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Museum
NORTH AND GRAMPIAN
Corgarff Castle
Dallas Dhu Distillery
Elgin Cathedral
Fort George
Huntly Castle
Spynie Palace
Tolquhon Castle
Urquhart Castle
THE WESTERN ISLES
The Blackhouse, Arnol
ORKNEY
Maeshowe
Skara Brae