Five thousand years of Scottish history ready to be explored

There’s so much to see in Scotland.

From the world-famous Edinburgh Castle to the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae and churches, castles and cathedrals to abbeys, palaces and mills, there’s a little bit of history to suit everyone.

All in all, there are 78 Historic Scotland venues dotted from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, stretching back over 5,000 years of history.

Some have been homes to Kings and Queens, others have witnessed great events but what they all have in common is that they welcome thousands of visitors from across the globe every year.

And 2014 is gearing up to be an extra special one as the country celebrates Homecoming a year-long series of events which will see Scotland welcome the world as part of a celebration of creativity, culture and heritage.

Historic Scotland has just unveiled a programme of events, including the return of its flagship event Celebration of the Centuries at Fort George spanning 2,000 years of history, a series of summer exhibitions at the recently renovated Stirling Castle and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Homecoming programme, which kicks off this month, will bring these sights to life, with jousting, battle re-enactments and costume performances and offer fun for the whole family.

Activities will also take place at a number of the organisation’s sites to reflect Homecoming’s wider themes.

They range from food and drink-related events during Whisky Month and Food and Drink Fortnight to the opportunity to find out more about your family’s heritage through the family footsteps trails.

So if you fancy seeing the sights this summer, why not treat yourself to an Explorer Pass?

Available for either three or seven days, the pass is perfect for a touring holiday in Scotland. And the great news is that the more sites you see, the more you save!

Explorer Passes, valid between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015, start at £17 for children and £29 for adults. For more information, visit historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer.