Historic Environment Scotland

HES has revealed its preference for the end of through traffic in Holyrood Park

Just 12 weeks to have your say in park debate - John McLellan

Edinburgh Castle has witnessed many of the defining events in Scotland’s history. Sieges were fought over the mighty stronghold. Royalty lived and died within its walls. Just the sight of the Castle Rock has terrified and inspired countless generations.

Free Historic Scotland sites to visit this winter - in pictures

The Radical Road has been closed to the public for five years because of concerns about rockfalls, but campaigners are calling for it to be reopened.

‘Reopen radical road’ plea five years after closure

Formerly a police station, this quaint, castellated Romanesque structure at 55 Abbeyhill was built in 1896 to the designs of city architect Robert Morham. It was added to the Buildings at Risk register in 2012.

12 historic Edinburgh buildings at risk of disappearing

The Ross Bandstand was used recently to show the coronation of King Charles (Picture: Scott Louden)

Cockburn Association must take a consistent, even-handed approach

Celebrating our rich history on World Heritage Day - James Dalgleish

Linlithgow Palace is set to partially re-open this summer after major renovation works.

Linlithgow Palace scheduled to re-open this summer

Edinburgh Castle received 89 complaints

Visitors' gripes Edinburgh Castle revealed

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) reported that 20 swans have died from suspected avian influenza at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh.

20 swans die in Holyrood Park bird flu outbreak

Iain Munro is chief executive of Creative Scotland (Picture: Kat Gollock)

Creative Scotland has delivered a chilling future vision after budget cut

Summer Sessions concerts have been staged below Edinburgh Castle in Princes Street Gardens in recent years. Picture: Ryan Johnston

More Princes Street Gardens events set to be staged under rethink over curbs

Lorna Slater is the minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity

Now’s the time for a car-free Holyrood Park - Lorna Slater

The former Royal High School on Edinburgh's Calton Hill is set to be turned into a new 'world-class centre for music education and public performance.' Image: Richard Murphy Architects

Work on 'world-class' music centre in Edinburgh set to begin within weeks

The 'banana flats' are rated alongside the likes of Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Road Bridge, the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the 1967 glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden.

11 photos of Leith's ‘banana flats’ down the decades

The Radical Road has been closed since 2018 amid safety fears

Reopening the Radical Road - your views online

Photo: Greg Macvean

Renowned mountaineer welcomes plans reopen Radical Road
Plans to reopen a historic path in the Capital have been welcomed by world-renowned mountaineer Stephen Venables.

The Lumineers will perform at the Castle Esplanade next summer as part of the 2023 Castle Concert series

The Lumineers to perform at the Castle

Picture: Ryan Johnston

Edinburgh Castle: No rockfall incidents for four years despite safety fears

West Princes Street Gardens has played host to the Summer Sessions concert series in recent years.

Summer Sessions gigs scrapped over clampdown on Princes Street Gardens events

A sneak peek of this year’s Castle of Light trail was unveiled to a group of lucky children from Royal Mile Primary School at a private viewing in Edinburgh Castle’s grounds.

Edinburgh's ‘Castle of Light’ reveals first look

Edinburgh Castle was one of many tourist attractions that closed due to high winds on Friday. (Photo credit: Ben Guerin)

Several Edinburgh attractions closed due to high winds

Rachael Hamilton MSP had criticised Heritage Environment Scotland over claims it had banned non-inclusive language

Heritage chiefs dismiss claims of language 'ban'

The Stone of Destiny will be moved from Edinburgh Castle to London for the coronation of the new King.

Stone of Destiny to be moved to London

The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to the Palace of Holyroodhouse as it completes it journey from Balmoral. Picture date: Sunday September 11, 2022.

Crown of Scotland to be placed on Queen’s coffin while it lies in rest

Actors wearing top hats and tailcoats will re-enact the events of the hall's opening ceremony in 1897
Picture: Chris Watt Photography

Town hall's anniversary celebrations take visitors 125 years back in time

The blaze on Arthur's Seat on Monday night, captured by JJ Dodders.

Firefighters tackled Arthur's Seat blaze overnight

Income from Edinburgh Castle helps boost Historic Environment Scotland's funds (Picture: Ian Johnston)

How Edinburgh helps fund the upkeep of Scotland’s historic buildings
During the Covid crisis, the Scottish Government had to step in and fund many things, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) among them. Funding rose to £61 million.

Are people in any other city as satisfied with it as the people of Edinburgh? (Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

People like living in Edinburgh. And here's one big reason why – Donald Anderson

The Spectacular Jousting event at Linlithgow Palace. Photo by Lisa Ferguson.

Spectacular jousting returns to Linlithgow Peel

The East Lothian heritage centre that celebrates the birthplace of the Saltire has reopened once again. PIC: Flickr/CC/Neil Turner.

Home of Scotland's flag flying high after £100,000 lift

Doune Castle near Stirling. Picture: Getty Images

Iconic Scotland castle reopens following a year of closure

The Scottish Wildlife Mural by Alasdair Gray which could soon be recognised with listed status
Pic: HES

Writer and artist Alasdair Gray's famous mural could get listed status

The ruinous Tantallon Castle, a landmark on the East Lothian coast, is currently off limits to the public while in-depth surveys are carried out to assess its condition and how to preserve it for the future. Picture: Getty Images

Risk to Scotland’s historical buildings as heritage body faces £13m cut

Workers with the wheel press in the wheelwrights workshop in the St Rollox Locomotive Works in Springburn, Glasgow
Pic: HES

Listed building status for famous Glasgow locomotive works

Edinburgh could soon have something similar to this Skywalk in Canada.

Could this futuristic option help reopen a key pathway on Arthur's Seat?

Green ambitions: The solar panels at Edinburgh Castle
Pic: HES

Solar panels installed at Edinburgh Castle

A walker on the Radical Road in Holyrood Park travels the route named in recognition of the labourers used to create it. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The forgotten history of Edinburgh’s Radical Road

Radical Road on Athur Seat which has been closed due to the risk of falling rocks. This may become a permanent closure. (Photo credit: Greg Macvean)

Beloved Edinburgh footpath could be permanently closed to public

Fiona Hyslop MSP and Culture Minister Neil Gray at Linlithgow Palace, with representatives from Historic Environment Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop welcomes Culture Minister to Linlithgow Palace

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh was Scotland's busiest visitor attraction in 2021.

National Museum reclaims crown as Scotland's most popular attraction

Crags Hutton Section

New digital 3D models provide "immersive" access to Salisbury Crags

The former Royal High School on Calton Hill is to be turned into a new National Centre for Music.

City declares that almost all of its most important buildings have been saved

Local tourist attraction Kinneil House, Bo'ness.

Guided Kinneil House tour from your couch

The Radical Road path is one of Scotland's most historic paths. Picture: Greg Macvean

Calls to restore access to Radical Road

Divine Tasinda, Rhys Hollis, Andrea Baker and Kheanna Walker have collaborated on the new touring film exhibition OMOS. Picture: Washington Gwande

Celebration of black performance in Scotland filmed at Stirling Castle

The Melville Monument dominates St Andrew Square in Edinburgh's New Town. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Edinburgh should find new ways to honour slave trade victims – Brian Ferguson

Robert Burns lived at Ellisland Farm in Dumfries and Galloway from 1788 until 1791.

Study reveals 'secret history' of Burns home

St. Giles Cathedral is where John Knox was minister. Picture: Mark Scates / SNS Group

Kirk could hand St Giles to conservation body

Controversy around Henry Dundas' links to the slave trade led to a new plaque installed at the Melville Monument in Edinburgh

Glasgow University to map 'imperial connections' of Scotland's historic sites

Firemen and fire engines on parade outside the newly-opened Tollcross fire station in Edinburgh, April 1986. The fire station is credited with developing a new, artistic design for public buildings. PIC:: Stan Warburton/ Bill Stout

Architecture 999: Call to list Edinburgh's 'witty' postmodern fire station

A thermal image of the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. The landmark has the same level of carbon dioxide emissions as 348 UK homes. PIC: HES.

Edinburgh Castle has carbon emissions equal to 348 UK homes

Castle of Light will put a spotlight on the lesser-known stories from Scotland’s past. (Nick Mailer)

Edinburgh Castle launches search to find Scotland’s ‘wee treasure’

Royal Park high-heid yins appear to be too busy to respond to John McLellan (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA)

Queen's estate managers clearly don't deal with oiks like me – John McLellan

Free school milk was ended by Margaret Thatcher in 1971

Readers' letters: Government childcare was better in forties

The Low Road goes past Duddingston Loch

Park managers respond to residents after being accused of ‘utter disdain’