Summer sees record-breaking visitor numbers for Scotland’s heritage sites

Historic Scotland said that over the three month period – from June to August – 1,826,047 visitors were welcomed to heritage attractions throughout the country; an increase of more than 34,000 on the same period last year.

Summer 2015 also witnessed several new records being set for many of Historic Scotland’s 77 ticketed attractions, including five castles and prehistoric village.

Scotland’s number one paid for visitor attraction, Edinburgh Castle, was amongst the record breaking sites, welcoming 666,348 visitors an increase of 7 per cent on the same period in 2014. July alone saw 249,923 visitors pass over its famous drawbridge, a rise of 12 per cent when compared to the same month last year. On a single day in August the castle exceeded 10,600 visitors and recently welcomed its one millionth visitor through the gates – the earliest in the year that this milestone has ever been reached.

Another top performer during the summer season included Doune Castle, which rose to international fame following its starring role as the fictional Castle Leoch in the first season of the Outlander TV series. Enjoying the ‘Outlander effect’, the Stirlingshire castle has reported three back-to-back record breaking months and enjoyed an overall surge of 44 per cent in visitors, rising to 32,540 for this period in 2015.

Meanwhile, Skara Brae, one of Europe’s best-preserved prehistoric settlements, benefited from two consecutive record breaking months. The site, which dates back around 5,000 years, saw an increase of 8% in June and 13 per cent in July on the previous year and welcomed a total of 55,078 visitors during the three month summer period.

Scotland’s cabinet secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: “This record-breaking year for visits to Historic Scotland properties demonstrates the value, significance and growing appeal of Scotland’s heritage to visitors.

“From Orkney to the Borders, Scotland’s history and heritage filled landscapes are a truly unique resource, not just in terms of the wider benefits that they offer for all in terms of cultural enrichment – providing an insight into different aspects of our nation’s past, but also for their role and potential in supporting and driving economic growth. This potential is illustrated in sites such as Doune Castle, which features in the highly successful TV series Outlander, which now attracts visitors on both a UK and international level.”

Summer (June-August 2015) visitor figures for Historic Scotland’s Top Ten paid for attractions: