Entry passes · The Castle Rolls
Historic Scotland Explorer Pass.
Historic Environment Scotland looks after 70 of the castles on the roll. 47 of them charge for entry - that is where this pass earns its keep - and 23 are free to walk into anyway, pass or no pass.
The pass, verified
Entry to over 60 Historic Environment Scotland sites - Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart castles among them - valid for 14 consecutive days from your chosen start date. Listed at £48 for an adult (summer 2026 season), with concession, child and family tiers. The covered sites vary by season, so check the current list before buying. Full details and current prices: the official Historic Scotland Explorer Pass page.
Confirm before you buy
Pass coverage is set by the operator and can change - a handful of sites, events or seasons are sometimes excluded. Before buying, check the castles you actually plan to visit against the official covered-places list on the page linked above.
Castles where the pass matters - 47 charging for entry, best-reviewed first
Edinburgh Castle
City of Edinburgh
Stirling Castle
Stirling
Urquhart Castle
Highland
Doune Castle
Stirling
Blackness Castle
Falkirk
St Andrews Castle
Fife
Caerlaverock Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Craigmillar Castle
City of Edinburgh
Tantallon Castle
East Lothian
Dumbarton Castle
West Dunbartonshire
Inverlochy Castle
Highland
Kilchurn Castle
Argyll and Bute
Broughty Castle
Dundee City
Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel
Argyll and Bute
Aberdour Castle and Gardens
Fife
Dirleton Castle
East Lothian
Dundonald Castle
South Ayrshire
Huntly Castle
Aberdeenshire
Castle Campbell
Clackmannanshire
Bothwell Castle
South Lanarkshire
Huntingtower Castle
Perth and Kinross
Newark Castle
Inverclyde
Rothesay Castle
Argyll and Bute
Lochleven Castle
Perth and Kinross
Balvenie Castle
Moray
Hermitage Castle
Scottish Borders
Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
Threave Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Smailholm Tower
Scottish Borders
MacLellan's Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Tolquhon Castle
Aberdeenshire
Auchindoun Castle
Moray
Kildrummy Castle
Aberdeenshire
Spynie Palace
Moray
Edzell Castle and Garden
Angus
Craignethan Castle
South Lanarkshire
Crichton Castle
Midlothian
Corgarff Castle
Aberdeenshire
Clackmannan Tower
Clackmannanshire
Claypotts Castle
Dundee City
Kinnaird Head Castle Lighthouse
Aberdeenshire
Cardoness Castle
Dumfries and Galloway
Elcho Castle
Perth and Kinross
Kisimul Castle
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Glenbuchat Castle
Aberdeenshire
Cadzow Castle
South Lanarkshire
Scotstarvit Tower
Fife
Free anyway - no pass needed - 23 open-access Historic Environment Scotland castles
These are also in Historic Environment Scotland's care, but they are open-access ruins with no admission charge - a pass adds nothing here, which is worth knowing before you count them toward its value.
Duffus Castle
Moray Free entry
Ravenscraig Castle
Fife Free entry
Earl's Palace, Birsay
Orkney Islands Free entry
Lochranza Castle
North Ayrshire Free entry
Castle of Old Wick
Highland Free entry
Loch Doon Castle
East Ayrshire Free entry
Carnasserie Castle
Argyll and Bute Free entry
Crookston Castle
Glasgow City Free entry
Hailes Castle
East Lothian Free entry
Skipness Castle and Chapel
Argyll and Bute Free entry
Morton Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Balvaird Castle
Perth and Kinross Free entry
Lochmaben Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Scalloway Castle
Shetland Islands Free entry
Muness Castle
Shetland Islands Free entry
Castle Sween
Argyll and Bute Free entry
Carsluith Castle
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Orchardton Tower
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Burleigh Castle
Perth and Kinross Free entry
Noltland Castle
Orkney Islands Free entry
Greenknowe Tower
Scottish Borders Free entry
Drumcoltran Tower
Dumfries and Galloway Free entry
Cubbie Roo's Castle
Orkney Islands Free entry