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Our Big Scottish Summer

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Our Big Scottish Summer

Enjoy great value from your membership – experience and enjoy the best of Scotland this summer.

A mum, dad, boy and girl sit on the grass in a garden. The mum and dad are laughing as the children roll over each other, playing. A vibrant pink rose bed is in the background.

Thank you for supporting us by being a member. We can’t wait to welcome you to our places this summer.

Find a place to visit

Look for a place you’ll love.

A gorge in a garden on a sunny day, with colourful rhododendrons on either bank.

Amazing summer experiences

Tail-wagging trips

We know that dogs are precious members of the family. At the National Trust for Scotland, we have many brilliant places where you can take your furry friend to make treasured memories together.

That waggy tail is infectious – it’s hard to know who gets the most enjoyment from a lovely walk at one of our properties! Woodlands, beaches or the mountains – where will you head first?

And don’t forget, your Trust membership means you get free access to all of our places.

Wonderful dog walks in Scotland

A smiling girl crouches down and pets a brown and white dog on the lawn in front of Crathes Castle. The dog appears to smile at the girl and sits nicely, her lead lying on the grass beside her.

Magical castles

Some of the most recognisable castles in Scotland are in our care. Whether you’re bringing your own Cinderella to Craigievar, following the dodo trail (yes, really!) at Brodick, or playing hide and seek in the beautiful grounds at Brodie, visiting one of our castles is the perfect fun way to find out a little more about Scottish history.

Castles in Scotland

A little girl dressed in a Cinderella costume runs across the lawn in front of Craigievar Castle, with a man dressed in a suit of armour standing behind her.

Places to play

Our adventure playgrounds are a great way to introduce children to Scotland’s heritage while giving them the chance to let off steam.

And when (if!) they’re tired of climbing, crawling, sliding, swinging and bouncing, you can always take a look around the rest of the property. There are multiple elements to explore: you can follow trails indoors and out; you can learn about the Scots language in interactive games; or you can join special ranger-led events to find out about the plants and animals that we look after.

7 favourite playgrounds

A young child balances between wooden upright poles in a play park. A blue painted wooden playhouse is in the background.

Adventures in nature

Scotland’s outdoor spaces are a natural playground where you can enjoy everything from hiking and biking to picnics overlooking your favourite loch.

Getting outdoors is a great way to keep active, try new things, and enjoy Scotland’s magnificent wildlife – from tiny caterpillars to large llamas, you can spot them all at our places!

Outdoor activities in Scotland

A young boy is carried on his mum's back in a woodland. They have stopped in front of a wooden pole that has a wooden sculpture of a bird on top of it. The little boy is reaching out to touch the sculpture.

Beautiful beaches

Scotland is home to some of the best beaches in the world, and some are right around the corner from Trust properties – a few of our places even have spectacular beaches of their own. Explore the rock pools, look out for whales and dolphins out to sea, build sandcastles, paddle or simply stroll along the soft white sand. This is what summers are made for!

And remember that being a member means you can enjoy free parking on our National Trust for Scotland car parks.

Super Scottish beaches

A family walk hand in hand along a sandy beach, with rocky cliffs behind them. The two children are skipping and laughing.

Rainy day fun

Rain does not stop play! From printing works and castles to interactive museums, we have something to suit everyone if you’re looking to stay dry on a rather soggy day.

Or, you can pull on the raincoats and wellies and embrace a puddle-jumping walk. Many of our places have cafés and tearooms where you can dry out at the end.

Things to do on a rainy day

Two children stand in the case room at Robert Smail's Printing Works. They wear white aprons and are selecting letters from large wooden trays in front of them.

A family stand under large gunnera leaves.

Tasty treats

Enjoy a hot or cold drink, some tasty home baking or a delicious lunch as you recharge for more adventures. Across the Trust, we make, bake, taste and grow the items on our menus, so there really is something to satisfy all types of taste buds!

Explore our cafés and tearooms

Three ice cream cones lie on a plate. The two either side are a pale ice cream and the one in the middle is bright pink. The cones are topped with chocolate.

Two women sit at a table in a courtyard cafe. The lady on the left is pouring tea for the other lady, from a silver teapot. Various cakes are on plates on the table.

A large slice of lemon sponge, decorated with chocolate beans and lemon icing, is served on a delicate floral china plate. It stands on a metal patio table.

Puzzle answers

Here are the answers to the puzzles on the back of your member-exclusive Big Scottish Summer map that arrived with your magazine – we hope you had fun solving them!

Codebreaker: Glenfinnan Monument

Wildlife puzzle:

Cow
Ants
Thistle
Otter
Eagle
Bee

Follow the path:

A = seal
B = Highland cow
C = Red squirrel

Place the pictures:

View the completed picture Sudoku

Now you’ve sharpened your detective skills, why not have a go at the different puzzles on the special Our Big Scottish Summer map that’s available from the following properties:

North East
Barry Mill, Castle Fraser, Craigievar Castle, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Fyvie Castle, Haddo House, House of Dun, Leith Hall, Mar Lodge Estate and Pitmedden Garden

Ayrshire & Arran
Brodick Castle, Culzean Castle and Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

Dumfries & Galloway
Threave Garden

Edinburgh & The Lothians
House of the Binns, Newhailes and Preston Mill

Scottish Borders
Priorwood Garden and Robert Smail’s Printing Works

Perth
Branklyn Garden

Fife
Culross Palace, Falkland Palace, Hill of Tarvit Mansion and Kellie Castle

Forth Valley
Alloa Tower and Bannockburn

Glasgow and Argyll
Crarae Garden, Geilston Garden, Greenbank Garden, The Hill House, Holmwood, The Tenement House and Weaver’s Cottage

Highlands
Abertarff House, Brodie Castle, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Monument, Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum and Inverewe

Two young women and three small children run across the lawn in front of Newhailes House, towards the camera. They are laughing and holding hands in a long line.

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