National Trust for Scotland

National Trust for Scotland NTS cares for the places that make people smile. Support our charity so we can keep sharing them with everyone

The National Trust for Scotland is the charity that cares for, shares and speaks up for Scotland’s magnificent heritage. We’re Scotland’s largest membership organisation and we’re independent from government. Since 1931, we’ve pioneered public access to and shared ownership of some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and landscapes in Scotland. We care for ancient houses, battlefields,

castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands and mountain ranges, as well as the plants, animals and birds that live there. Without our involvement, many of these places and things would have been lost forever to the passage of time, development and the elements. We believe in protecting Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage, and sharing our amazing places with everyone. A shared heritage is the cornerstone of any strong culture. Scotland is blessed with a wealth of stories, values, objects and landscapes that, over time, have been woven together to unite communities, forge traditions and nurture our unique national spirit. Simply put, our work keeps this heritage safe. Every day, our members, volunteers and staff help us to look after an astonishing variety of things. We’re the proud guardians of over 300,000 precious artefacts, so they’ll still be here to inspire many generations to come. We look after 46 Munros, helping to protect rare species like ptarmigan and golden eagles, while also providing safe and sustainable access. We’re the custodians of 38 gardens, 27 castles and houses, and 8 National Nature Reserves. We care for miles and miles of coastline – home to over 1 million seabirds! We conserve 76,000 hectares of countryside, from the most northerly island in Shetland to the Solway coast. We do it

The National Trust for Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (Reg No: SC007410)

24/08/2026

Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire is a cliff-top masterpiece, filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here.

This glorious estate, designed in the late eighteenth century by Robert Adam, was once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis – a man who was keen to impress with his wealth and status. Kennedy was one of the oldest clans in Scotland, with an ancestry that can be traced back to Robert the Bruce.

The country park boasts forty buildings and secret follies, as well as woods, beaches and a swan pond.

3 miles of cliffs, rocky shore and sandy bays add the final touch to Culzean Castle & Country Park NTS, with views across the Firth of Clyde to Arran, Kintyre and Ailsa Craig.

We think places that make people smile are worth caring for – support us so we can keep sharing them with everyone.

23/08/2026

It’s surprising what you can grow in one of the most northerly corners of Scotland!

What was once a wild stretch of land framed by mountains and lochs became Inverewe Garden & Estate NTS after a father-daughter duo laboured and loved in the nineteenth century.

Today, Inverewe is a real paradise for garden enthusiasts with unusual and exotic plants growing in abundance.

Inverewe benefits from a unique microclimate thanks to the effects of the Gulf Stream, which is why so many plants from around the world thrive.

You can also enjoy views of the garden from the sea with a wildlife boat trip – keep your eyes peeled for seals, otters, golden and sea eagles!

We think places that make people smile are worth caring for – support us so we can keep sharing them with everyone.

126 years ago, two remarkable artists said “I do” ❤️On 22 August 1900, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonal...
22/08/2026

126 years ago, two remarkable artists said “I do” ❤️

On 22 August 1900, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald were married at St Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Dumbarton.

They first met as students at Glasgow School of Art, and their relationship would become one of the most fascinating creative partnerships in Scottish art and design.

Their lives and work became deeply intertwined. You can see examples of this at The Mackintosh Tearooms NTS and The Hill House NTS, where Charles’s architecture and furniture sit alongside Margaret’s textiles, decorative work and extraordinary gesso panel - together creating something that neither could have achieved alone.

And their story is still being written.

Today, our Mackintosh Illuminated project is bringing new focus to the remarkable legacy of Charles and Margaret, while working to secure the future of two of their most significant surviving creations: the Hill House in Helensburgh and The Mackintosh Tearooms in Glasgow.

At the Hill House, years of pioneering conservation work are now revealing the building in new ways, as the protective Box has allowed the structure to dry out and work progresses to remove its problematic outer render. At the same time, work is underway to develop new interpretation and experiences that will help more people discover the contribution of both Charles and Margaret.

As we celebrate their wedding anniversary, we’re also celebrating the fact that their extraordinary creative partnership continues to inspire - and that we’re making real progress in protecting its legacy for generations to come.

How big is a newly hatched Leach’s Storm Petrel chick you might ask? Not much bigger than a strawberry is the answer!🍓Ou...
21/08/2026

How big is a newly hatched Leach’s Storm Petrel chick you might ask? Not much bigger than a strawberry is the answer!🍓

Our Leach's Storm Petrel chicks are growing fast on St Kilda, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that supports an incredible 94% of the UK's breeding population of these incredible seabirds.

Our conservation rangers work hard to protect these rare birds, which are a priority species in our Plan for Nature, by monitoring burrows, using specialised nest boxes, weighing chicks, and maintaining strict biosecurity to keep invasive predators away. The regular health checks involve measurements of the birds' weight, wing length, head-bill and part of the foot called the tarsus.

The nest boxes on St Kilda are used primarily to measure laying, hatching, fledging and the growth rates of chicks, with breeding success also being recorded annually as St Kilda is the only site where this monitoring is feasible in UK.

Measuring growth rates of chicks every year gives us an indication of how frequently and well they are being fed, which can help us understand more about changes in the overall condition of our marine environment.

All of our work conducted with Leach's Storm Petrels on St Kilda is carried out under licence by experienced staff.

📸Ranger Vivi

Have you heard of our little gems?They might be off the beaten track, but they're places of historic or natural interest...
20/08/2026

Have you heard of our little gems?

They might be off the beaten track, but they're places of historic or natural interest given to our charity to help preserve their unique qualities for future generations to enjoy.

You’ll be surprised what you might find when you take the path less trodden! Will you be adding any to your visit list?

📍 Strome Castle, 📸 Joe Putman
📍 Balmerino Abbey, 📸 Paul Sands
📍 Bruce's Stone, 📸 Elaine Craig

🏰 How much Scottish history can you fit into 30 minutes? Quite a lot, as it turns out!On this week's Love Scotland podca...
19/08/2026

🏰 How much Scottish history can you fit into 30 minutes? Quite a lot, as it turns out!

On this week's Love Scotland podcast, Jackie Bird heads to Drum Castle, Garden & Estate NTS in Aberdeenshire to uncover centuries of stories - from Robert the Bruce and James VI to the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 and the magnificent walled gardens.

Jackie also finds out how the Trust’s Timesliders project is bringing these stories to new generations.

Listen now:
🎧 Spotify: https://brnw.ch/21x52Iw
🎧 Apple: https://brnw.ch/21x52Iv

18/08/2026

Your sign to spend a week castle hopping in Aberdeenshire!🏰✨

Aberdeenshire is known as Scotland's castle country for a reason.
Whether you're into history, love a good walk, or just want an excuse to pretend you're royalty for the day, the Aberdeenshire castle trail is well worth adding to your list.

Who are you bringing with you?

17/08/2026

🖨️ A century-old printing press - back to work!

This rare Victorian printing press at Robert Smail's Printing Works NTS has been restored to full working order - for the first time in a decade.

Thought to date from 1908, the Falcon Safety Platen Press is believed to be the only known example of its type still in operation in the UK.

Specialist conservators repaired its leather bellows, new rubber suckers were created using 3D scanning and printing, and other components were carefully repaired and conserved.

Now, it’s doing what it was made to do over 100 years ago: printing!

And with all six presses at Smail’s back at work, this remarkable piece of Scotland’s industrial heritage is very much alive.

16/08/2026

Is this the most magical island in Scotland? 🤔😍

Introducing: the Isle of Canna! This wee place is the westernmost of the Small Isles, an archipelago in the Inner Hebrides.

Canna is just four miles long and one mile wide, but it packs a punch when it comes to scenery, history and wildlife – think puffins, white sand, turquoise water, prehistoric fortifications and much more!

We think places that make people smile are worth caring for. So, support this place for the future so we can keep sharing it with everyone.

Canna NTS

40 years of caring for Staffa ♥️Today, we’re celebrating 40 years since Staffa National Nature Reserve came into the car...
15/08/2026

40 years of caring for Staffa ♥️

Today, we’re celebrating 40 years since Staffa National Nature Reserve came into the care of the Trust - and marking the completion of major new infrastructure that will help protect and share this extraordinary island for years to come.

Gifted to the Trust in 1986 by John Elliott Jr., Staffa has been captivating visitors for centuries. From its extraordinary hexagonal basalt columns and world-famous Fingal’s Cave to its puffins, seabirds, seals, butterflies and wildflower-rich grasslands, there is so much to discover here.

Over the past two years, we’ve been working to replace infrastructure that was more than 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose. A new landing jetty has been installed, while the staircase to the upper island and puffin colony has been replaced with a wider, stronger and less steep structure designed to better withstand the island’s extreme weather. Improvements have also been made to the path towards Fingal’s Cave.

It has been challenging work in an exposed island environment, with contractors battling winter seas and difficult conditions - but the result is infrastructure that will make arriving on Staffa safer and easier, while helping us continue to care for this special place.

Staffa is a National Nature Reserve and an important home for wildlife. Our rangers play a vital role in monitoring species and habitats, protecting vulnerable seabirds and helping visitors experience the island responsibly.

40 years on, we’re proud to be caring for Staffa - and helping ensure its nature, beauty and heritage can be enjoyed for generations to come.

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Edinburgh

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+441313857490

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