Stirling Castle © Historic Scotland

Spark your imagination and travel back in time by visiting properties available to the public as part of Historic Scotland’s Free Weekend from April 12-13 2008.

Historic Scotland is encouraging visitors to discover more about the nation’s past with the freebie days. The organisation has 345 properties in its care, ranging from castles and cathedrals to palaces and prehistoric villages, spanning over 5,000 years of history and culture.

© Edinburgh Castle

Over its ten-year history the Free Weekend has attracted over 600,000 visitors to the properties, with Edinburgh Castle proving to be the most popular destination last year.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to gain an insight into the incredible history of the nation and have a great day out with family and friends,” said Peter Bromley, Director of Properties in Care for Historic Scotland. “We hope that visitors will be inspired to return to other Historic Scotland properties.”

Some of the properties available to the public are Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfriesshire, Edinburgh Castle, Dumbarton Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Dunblane Cathedral, Fort George, Skara Brae and Skaill House.

Maeshowe in Orkney. © Historic Scotland

Linda Fabiani, MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, said: “The Free Weekend is an important date in the cultural calendar. I would encourage everyone to take the time to visit somewhere new that will spark their imagination about the nation’s remarkable past.”

For more information and a full list of the properties available, please visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk. Historic Scotland have also set up a text service for people to find their nearest free attraction. Simply text OUR HISTORY to 84118.