31 March 2009

Media Releases

Visitors have a rare chance to step back into prehistory with special guided tours inside the Neolithic houses at Skara Brae. The need to preserve the 5,000-year-old buildings means visitors can normally see them from paths round the outside of the site.

31 March 2009

Media Releases

The rich variety of Scotland’s historic cinemas is celebrated in a new book. Historic Scotland, working with the Cinema Theatre Association, has looked at how the outstanding buildings where audiences have basked in the glow of the silver screen have evolved and survived. Marking the launch and celebrating the iconic Cameo Cinema’s 60th anniversary (and 95 years since it first opened as a cinema) Culture Minister Michael Russell said: “The Cameo is a great example of a cinema that holds a place in people’s hearts as an Edinburgh landmark and cinematic institution.

31 March 2009

Media Releases

Dryburgh Abbey has yet again been ranked as one of the country’s best visitor attractions. VisitScotland has renewed the castle’s coveted five-star status for a sixth year, marking it out as somewhere visitors can be confident of a warm welcome, excellent facilities and an super day out. The assessments are made by mystery inspectors who turn up at attractions unannounced and only reveal their identity at the end.

27 March 2009

Media Releases

The history of Tain in Easter Ross is uncovered in a new book launched today by the Council For British Archaeology and Historic Scotland. Historic Tain: Archaeology and Development is the latest book in the Scottish Burgh Survey series, designed to identify the archaeological potential of Scotland’s historic towns, to guide development decisions and set questions to be answered by further investigation.

26 March 2009

Media Releases

Bone buttons, buckles, spurs, half a cannon ball and some early clay pipes are included in a new display of archaeological finds at Smailholm Tower. The finds were made in the 1980s during an excavation by Chris Tabraham, who is now Historic Scotland’s principal historian.