Historic abbey will welcome visitors as its 700th anniversary draws to a close

TOURISM: Famous Arbroath landmark among many sites to reopen from August

Remnants of a milestone year in Arbroath Abbey’s history will be salvaged with the reopening of the ancient attraction to visitors next month.

The Angus landmark is among a list of Historic Environment Scotland properties which will welcome visitors again from August through to midseptember.

It will include the unlocking of gates at Edinburgh and Stirling castles from the beginning of next month.

The red sandstone abbey had been set to enjoy global attention for the 700th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath before the global pandemic wiped out a programme of celebration, including a pageant procession through the town in a recreation of the historic document’s departure for Avignon.

In April, the Arbroath 2020 committee, and partners Visitscotland and HES, announced it had taken the decision to postpone the commemorations until next year.

HES has now set out the phased approach to reopening 70% of its freeto-access and ticketed properties by mid-september – all of them having been locked down since March 18.

It will include access to more than 200 unstaffed and key-keeper sites across Scotland from Wednesday where physical distancing can be readily maintained.

A further 26 ticketed sites will then reopen on a rolling basis, starting with Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle on August 1.

The heritage body said visitors, including members, will be required to pre-book tickets online and to use contactless payment where possible.

One-way systems will be implemented and parts of some attractions may stay closed off.

Arbroath Abbey is among many Scottish historic sites which are set to reopen from August.