Historic Fife castle re-opens its doors after lockdown

Aberdour Castle re-opened its doors today after a prolonged closure due to the lockdown restrictions.

Scotland’s oldest standing castle welcomed its first visitors back since shutting its historic doors in March.

The site, managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), has made adaptations to meet Government guidelines.

These include one-way systems in some locations and the closure of some indoor areas where physical distancing is not possible.

Visitors will also be required to pre-book tickets to manage capacity, and they will be asked to wear face coverings when entering any internal spaces.

But they will get to see its rich history once again - the imposing castle dates from the 1100s to the 1600s - and explore its famous walled gardens and grounds, including its impressive orchard and doocot.

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Alex Paterson, chief executive of HES, said: “We know how keen people are to access historic sites and are pleased to be able to open up Aberdour Castle so as many people as possible can enjoy its magnificent surroundings.

“It has taken a significant amount of planning to reach this point, and I’m very proud of the efforts of all of our staff who have been instrumental in making these sites ready to safely welcome visitors once again.”

He said the return to business was important for the tourism sector.

Mr Paterson added: “Our historic sites are internationally renowned symbols of Scotland, and their reopening is an important milestone not only for our organisation, but for the country as a whole as we continue on our journey to recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With over 300 sites across Scotland, each of which have a unique offering we have been opening our sites on a phased basis, with 70 per cent of our sites open by mid-September.

“The tourism sector will be central to Scotland’s national recovery, and our historic attractions are a key part of that tourism offering, including secondary spend. We’re also encouraging people across Scotland to visit historic sites in their local area and rediscover the rich history on their doorstep.

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