Scotland’s castles see welcome boost in visitor numbers during Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

HISTORIC SCOTLAND says visitor numbers to castles under their care soared during the five-day holiday period that covered the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

• 84,643 people visited Historic Scotland over the period

• Edinburgh Castle was the top attraction with 30,769 visitors

• 10,166 went to Stirling Castle over the weekend, up 14% on the same bank holiday weekend last year

Edinburgh Castle remains the most popular attraction for the organisation, with 1,314,975 visitors over the year. Stirling Castle, in second place, had 441,924 visitors; Urquhart Castle, on the shores of Loch Ness, saw a 10% rise in visitors, to 317,811.

Stirling Palace, part of Stirling Castle, was recently restored to how it would have looked during the reign of James V and Mary of Guise in the mid-16th century.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “These statistics speak for themselves and show that Scotland’s historic visitor attractions continue to play a vital role in the country’s tourism industry and the wider economy. Many visitors from all over the world come to Scotland to experience our rich, diverse and colourful history and Historic Scotland’s properties provide our visitors with a unique experience to see our history up close.

“The rise in income is also to be welcomed as it allows Historic Scotland to continue reinvesting in the country’s important historic environment and the visitor experience they provide. While we have seen major improvements in areas such as the retail offering, what has also been key has been the continued improvements in the interpretation of these sites, such as the major investment undertaken at Stirling Palace.”