Historic Environment Scotland

The Stone of Destiny has returned to Edinburgh Castle following its journey south for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Picture: PA

Stone of Destiny returns to Scotland in secret operation

Red spraypaint was used to deface the top of the James V fountain, which sits in the central courtyard of the palace. PIC: HES.

Linlithgow Palace sprayed with red graffiti in 'wanton' attack by vandals

King Charles III has yet to set out his vision of the monarchy at a time when many Brits perceive him as being 'out of touch' (Picture: Henry Nicholls/pool/AFP/Getty Images)

If Charles III wants to reform the monarchy, he should start with its finances

One of the world's oldest stone monuments which is as ancient as Stonehenge and the Pyramids sits - on a council estate in Edinburgh

One of the world's oldest stone monuments sits in Scottish council estate

Archaeologists have discovered the buried remains of a Roman fortlet that once stood next to the Antonine Wall and was thought to be lost to the mists of time. HES experts made the discovery during a geophysical survey in a field near Carleith Primary School in West Dunbartonshire.

Roman fortlet lost for hundreds of years found near primary school

Livingston Skatepark could become a listed building (Picture: Greg Macvean)

Skateboarding now has a venerable history – Scotsman comment

Tony Hawk, who is widely considered as the world's greatest skateboarder, visited Livingstone Skatepark in 1990 and described it as a "legendary spot".

The Californian-style skatepark vying to be Scotland's newest heritage site

Rachael Dickson with a new 3D printed model of the Stone

Image of Stone of Destiny Roman numerals revealed with mysterious number 35

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland meets last year

Readers' letters: Church of Scotland should take lead on road to independence

St Kilda became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and it is seen as ‘the most remote island in the British Isles’, even known as the ‘islands at the edge of the world’. A solemn yet fascinating location, it lies roughly 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, and is considered difficult to reach due to its position surrounded by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. While it hosts the largest colony of Atlantic Puffins in the UK, it is also known as the former home of Gaelic-speaking islanders for thousands of years before their way of life became unsustainable in 1930, it has since rested chillingly uninhabited.

6 Scottish locations that earned UNESCO world heritage status including St Kilda

Historic Environment Scotland's conservation and digital documentation teams carrying out work to 3D scan and prepare the Stone of Destiny. Picture: Historic Environment Scotland/Santiago Arribas pena/PA Wire

‘Roman numerals’ found on Stone of Destiny ahead of King's coronation

The future of the 1930s Marks & Spencers building on Sauchiehall Street, which closed last year, is unknown. PIC: Contributed.

'Fight is on' to protect Glasgow heritage amid quest to save buildings

A series of living history events have been announced at some of Scotland’s most iconic historic attractions as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) launches its 2023 summer events programme.

Historic Environment Scotland announces summer events programme

St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Picture: Greg Macvean

Visitors to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh set to be charged for entry

Evidence of more than 1,000 previously uncharted archaeological sites has emerged on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. PIC: J Paren/geograph.org

Traces of 1,000 new archaeological sites emerge on Scottish island

Kisimul Castle on Barra is one Historic Environment Scotland site where Gaelic is used in signage but the organisation now plans to broaden the use of the language to help promote the impact Gaelic culture has had on Scotland's history. PIC: P Richardson/geograph.org

Gaelic and English to get equal status at Scotland’s historic sites

Dumbarton Castle is reopening

Dumbarton Castle to open its doors this weekend

Alex Paterson, Historic Environment Scotland Chief Executive.

Call for Aberdeenshire residents to be part of history

Carved in Stone, a table top role playing game, will bring the Pictish period to life following a collaboration between archaeologists and games designers. It comes as HES acknowledges more needs to be done to engage young people in Scotland's heritage. PIC: Contributed.

Scotland's heritage risk being just a thing of the past for Generation Z

Midhowe Broch on Rousay , which dates from the Iron Age, will be surveyed this week for damage caused by extreme weather patterns and climate change. PIC: Michael N Maggs/CC.

Team lands in Orkney to check damage at some of Scotland's oldest historic sites

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

Creative Scotland has delivered a chilling future vision after budget cut

Dumbarton Rock was once the heart of the kingdom of Alt Clut, whose people spoke a language similar to old Welsh. Picture: Shutterstock

Castle where William Wallace was taken after capture to reopen

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

An image showing how the Victoria Swing Bridge could look once repairs have taken place. Picture: LDN Architects

Work to repair historic engineering treasure in Leith delayed

One of the standing stones at Upper Port which is set to be fenced off to protect it from grazing cows. PIC: Richard Webb/geograph.org.

Ancient standing stones to be protected from 'rubbing' cows

Linlithgow Palace

Full inspection of Linlithgow Palace underway ahead of 'significant' repairs

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 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

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

Heritage chiefs dismiss claims of language 'ban'

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

The 'new' Caerlaverock Castle (top) was built only a short distance away from the original moated mansion, on ground just 7m above normal sea level -- researchers have revealed that both fortifications were affected by storm surges during a period of climate change between 1200 and 1570. Picture: RCAHMS

Ancient Scottish castles were hit by medieval climate change, researchers find

Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries has been closed since last June. PIC: geograph.org/Simon Ledingham.

Key historic buildings remain closed with checks to take a 'couple of years'

New research has shed fresh light on the movement of Jacobite soldiers at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. PIC: Creative Commons.

Culloden: Battle map reviewed as new position of Jacobite soldiers discovered

Sarah Mackinnon (left), Amy Eastwood

National Trust for Scotland receives substantial funding for repair projects

Falkland Palace

Falkland Palace beloved of Mary, Queen of Scots receives repair funds

Open again in time for golf's greatest tournament: St Andrews Cathedral
Pic: HES

St Andrews Cathedral re-opens in time for 150th Open Championship

Everyday holiday photos could help protect and preserve Ring of Brodgar on Orkney, which suffers from drainage and erosion, by tracking changes at the site, Historic Environment Scotland said. PIC: HES.

Holidaymaker urged to share snaps of Orkney's ancient Ring of Brodgar

Dunkeld Cathedral is one of the properties owned by Historic Environment Scotland that has yet to re-open following the pandemic. PIC: James Denam/CC

Staff shortages keep visitor attractions closed as summer season opens

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

Luing was once home to around 600 people with the slate industry offering steady employment for many (Picture: Luing History Group)

Inner Hebridean island shows value of going back to the future

Linlithgow Palace

Why it's the right time to invest in Scotland's historic buildings

Doune Castle near Stirling. Picture: Getty Images

Iconic Scotland castle reopens following a year of closure

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon plans to share her vision for IndyRef2 soon (Picture: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Readers Letters: Sturgeon has not earned right to Indyref2

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

Caerlaverock Castle is one of a host of Historic Environment Scotland properties currently closed to visitors.

Historic Environment Scotland cuts leave nation’s built heritage in jeopardy

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

The Centre Cumbernauld, first built in the 1960s, could be demolished under proposals to redevelop the town (Picture: www.geograph.org)

Cumbernauld town centre's fate should be decided by the people who live there

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn on Orkney is one of the finest Neolithic sites in Europe. PIC: HES.

Stunning 5,000-year-old Orkney site reopens

The Centre Cumbernauld, first built in the 1960s, could be demolished under proposals to redevelop the town although a move has now been made to list the building, which could thwart the local authority's ambitions for the site. PIC: www.geograph.org.

Heritage chiefs consider protecting Cumbernauld town centre as demolition looms

Carn Liath Iron Age broch near Golspie, Sutherland, has been damaged for a second time this year with concerns items of archaeological value may have been taken. PIC: Sylvia Duckworth/geograph.org.

Police investigate damage to Iron Age broch as stones removed to build cairn

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

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

Muness Castle on Unst, Shetland, dates to the 16th Century. PIC: CC.

Ancient Shetland castle is for sale again and could be a snip

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

Solar panels installed at Edinburgh Castle

The Scotsman Top Stories

A computer generated image issued by Transport Scotland of the proposed debris flow shelter

£470m road shelter planned to shield A83 Rest and Be Thankful from landslides

Scottish Labour are predicting 20,000 Scots will die in 2023 while waiting for NHS Treatment.

More than 18,000 Scots died while waiting on NHS treatment, amid private surge

Criticism of the Scottish Government’s stewardship of NHS Scotland, or indeed any area of devolution, is often met with whataboutery from ministers who assure the Scottish public things are just as bad south of the border.

Analysis: Scottish Government can no longer indulge in whataboutery on NHS