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Historic Scotland

My wife and I, both pensioners, will be traveling in Scotland for two weeks +, with multi-night stays in Edinburgh Glasgow and Portree. We hope to visit a number of historic sites in Edinburgh, Aviemore, Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Portree, Ft. William, Oban, Glasgow and Stirling.

We’re thinking that purchasing a year membership in Historic Scotland Alba Aosmhor for £73.50 might be beneficial. We would have access to on-line research prior to our trip, perhaps receive a few “newsletters” between now and mid April when we depart the US, and, if I’m reading the membership benefits correctly, “free access” to the venues staffed by the institution. We would appreciate any thoughts from RS travelers to Scotland interested in history.

Posted by
1692 posts

If you can get a limited membership do so.

Historic Scotland is the body that administers the parts of the national heritage owned by the crown in Scotland.
If you have a membership it does mean you do not have to pay a penny to get into an HS owned property for that period, and you get to park closer to Stirling Castle.

Edinburgh Castle is currently £34 for two adults. Stirling not much less.

Urqhart Castle, Doune Castle are HS. Eilean Donan, Dunvegan are both private. HS does not give a discount into NTS properties. HS also as the crown administers properties which are walk in free for everyone, one being the fortress at Dunadd..

Posted by
1692 posts

Oh, as an aside ALBA is the Gaelic name for Scotland. Eire for Ireland, Sassun for England.

Comes from the same root apparently as the Alpes and Albania!

Posted by
360 posts

We used the Scotland Explorer Pass and that covered quite a few of the sites -- enough to pay for itself -- and that included some of the private sites.