Site usage - cookies and website traffic analysis
When users enter the Historic Scotland website their computers will automatically be issued with 'cookies'. Cookies are text files which identify users' computers to Historic Scotland’s server. The website then creates "session" cookies to store some of the preferences of users moving around the website, e.g. retaining a text-only preference.

Cookies in themselves do not identify individual users but identify only the computer used and they are deleted on departure from the website.

Cookies enhance our website performance in a number of ways including providing a secure way for us to measure use of the website including number of visitors, how frequently pages are viewed, and the city and country of origin of users. This helps to determine what is popular and can influence future content and development.

The following table states the name and purpose of each of the cookies that are used across the Historic Scotland’s web properties. We have also provided a link to more detailed information where possible.

Provider & Name	Purpose	More Information	Website(s)
Google Analytics __utm()	Used by Google Analytics to track the sites users. This data is sent to google which then has reports that the site user can access about user's browsing habits. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	google.co.uk	historic-scotland.gov.uk & all sites
Google Map PREF=ID	Google maps cookie to track maps usage. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	google.co.uk	historic-scotland.gov.uk & all sites
Google Maps NID=	Google maps cookie to track maps usage. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	google.co.uk	historic-scotland.gov.uk & all sites
Persistent Slider fcspersistslider()	JavaScript image slider for dynamic rotating content feature on homepage. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	Custom code - not available	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Traveline Scotland JSESSIONID	Journey planning form travelinescotland. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	travelinescotland.com	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Traveline Scotland localeCookie	Journey planning form travelinescotland. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	travelinescotland.com	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Custom Shopping Cart - THISSESSION=	Supports the shopping cart feature of the e-commerce functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	Custom code - not available	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Custom Shopping Cart ip=	Stores the user's IP address. Supports the e-commerce functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	Custom code - not available	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Microsoft Server Side Session Cookie ASP.NET_SessionId=	Session cookie for the grants application. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	historic-scotland.gov.uk
Notes Cookie notes=	Cookie to store user notes on the planning itinerary page. Necessary for the provision of this service.	Custom code - not available	edinburghcastle.gov.uk
High Visibilty Accessibility Cookie accessibility-visual=	Cookie to store user choice of visual accessibility. Necessary for the provision of this service.	Custom code - not available	edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Ad Tracking Cookie AA002=	Anonymous cookies to track effectiveness of ads. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	atlassolutions.com	edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Add This Social Bookmarking uit=	Addthis API for social bookmarking functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	addthis.com	scottishten.org & edinburghcastle.gov.uk
eCommerce shopping cart functionality ASP.NET_SessionId	Session cookie for shopping cart and eCommerce functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	members.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Microsoft Server Side Session Cookie VisitorGuid	Session cookie for the Membership website. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	members.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Microsoft Server Side Session Cookie .ASPXAUTH	Session cookie for the Membership website. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	members.historic-scotland.gov.uk
eCommerce shopping cart functionality ShoppingCartCookieID	Session cookie for the Membership shopping cart functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	members.historic-scotland.gov.uk
eCommerce shopping cart functionality SalesOrderID()	Session cookie for the Membership shopping cart functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	members.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Oracle WWV_PUBLIC_SESSION_()	Session cookie for the Data website. Necessary for the provision of this service.	www.oracle.com	data.historic-scotland.gov.uk
eCommerce shopping cart functionality GTSASP.NET_SessionId	Session cookie for shopping cart and eCommerce functionality. Necessary for the provision of this service.	support.microsoft.com	tickets.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Ad Tracking Cookie id	Anonymous cookies to track effectiveness of ads. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	www.doubleclick.net	tickets.historic-scotland.gov.ukmembers.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Ad Tracking Cookie ANON_ID	Anonymous cookies to track effectiveness of ads. Helpful non-intrusive cookie.	www.tribalfusion.com	tickets.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Users have the opportunity to set their computers to accept all cookies, to notify them when a cookie is issued, or not to receive cookies at any time. The last of these means that certain personalised services cannot then be provided to that user.

For this purpose, the Historic Scotland uses a web traffic analysis package to measure and analyse usage of the website to help us improve our service to you. The information collected by Historic Scotland will include IP address, pages visited, browser type and operating system.

Log files
We store log files on our web server to allow the recording and analysis of users' use of the website. Log files do not contain any personal information.

We will take all reasonable care, in so far as it is in our power to do so, to keep the details of your order and payment secure, but in the absence of negligence on our part we cannot be held liable for any loss you may suffer if a third party procures unauthorised access to any data you provide when accessing or ordering from this website.