Cleaning up: Scone Palace gets Downton boost.

More than 100,000 visitors each year

As stately homes across Scotland benefit from the phenomenon of the “Downton effect” Scone Palace has revealed it now attracts more than 100,0000 visitors each year.

Buoyed by the popularity of the aristocratic television series, the palace has seen a rise in footfall in common with other historic houses off the back of the show.

Speaking as Support Scotland’s Heritage was launched – a new campaign to highlight the popularity of stately homes and castles – Lady Mansfield acknowledged the help of her family’s fictional counterparts in attracting visitors to Scone.

“It is wonderful to see that there has been a surge in the popularity of stately homes, with more and more people venturing to these beautifulsites around Scotland,” she said.

“Here at Scone Palace, we have worked incredibly hard to preserve the heritage of our home through welcoming visitors through our doors to take a journey into the past and explore the rich history of Scone, the crowning place of Scottish Kings and the traditional home of the Stone of Scone.”

The historic palace also recently capitalised on the success of the period drama film Belle by launching an exhibition recognising Scone Palace’s link with the movie.

The only portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle known to exist, and which is a central storyline to the film, was painted in 1779 and featured Dido and her cousin, Lady Elizabeth Murray. Today it hangs in the Ambassador’s Room and continues to be a popular attraction.

The Support Scotland’s Heritage campaign aims to build on the success of Downton Abbey that has seen visitor numbers to properties owned by members of the Historic Houses Association for Scotland (HHAS), the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland rise to more than 12 million per year.

HHAS will highlight the tourist contribution of castles, stately homes and their gardens and designed landscapes at a reception at the Scottish Parliament this week.

Lord Hopetoun, chairman of HHAS, said: “There’s no doubt that over the last couple of years we’ve enjoyed some benefit of the Downton Abbey effect.”

Preparations are under way at Scone Palace to open for the season, from polishing the many artefacts on display inside the palace, to trimming the hedges and clearing new paths in the grounds and gardens. Scone Palace opens to the public for its 50th anniversary year on Friday March 25.