Dumbarton Castle has been added to an exclusive list of iconic sites which will invite visitors to explore for free this winter.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is opening the doors to West Scotland’s top visitor attractions over the next six months as part of its Historic Sundays initiative.

From October 1, 2023, through to March 3, 2024, people living in Scotland can gain access to historic buildings and monuments for no charge on the first Sunday of each month.

Alex Paterson, chief executive of HES, said: “With over 5,000 years of history in our care, our historic buildings and monuments can tell us so much about the past, and how it continues to shape our world today, from being the backdrop to film locations to attracting millions of people from around the world and closer to home.

“We think its vital people living in Scotland feel history belongs to us all, and through our Historic Sunday’s initiative, we hope more people will take the opportunity to discover the history on their doorstep or explore further afield to sites they may not have seen until now.

“Engaging with heritage has lots of proven benefits, including well-being, and we very much hope people take the opportunity to explore these sites and be part of history.”

As well as Dumbarton’s famed stronghold, visitors can take in places like Dunstaffnage - which played a big role in Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape to France – alongside Edinburgh Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Arbroath Abbey.

Those hoping to go along to any of the sites must pre-book online and will be asked to show proof of address upon arrival.

To book, and for a list of participating Historic Scotland sites, visit HistoricSundays.scot.