2024 media releases

New research for the National Trust for Scotland shows that 97% of Scots believe access to the outdoors is important for their mental health, a point that is particularly significant at this time of year when wintery weather and dark nights can deter people from spending time outside.

Scotland’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) today joined The Willow Tea Rooms Trust to announce that Mackintosh at the Willow, in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, is to become part of the NTS’s portfolio of heritage properties.

Seven out of ten (68%) Scots believe a love of spending time outdoors is one of the most attractive qualities in a potential friend or partner, according to a new survey by Scotland’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland.

Leading conservation charities are calling on Scottish Ministers to reject a renewables development that could wreak unacceptable levels of ecological damage – including to vulnerable seabird populations – off Scotland’s East Coast.

The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating the stories of the remarkable women associated with the special places in its care to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March.

The National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter Egg Trails at the special places in its care this spring.

The discovery of a propeller blade, thought to be from a World War II plane, in a remote part of Arran has sparked an investigation for the National Trust for Scotland as it tries to identify its origin.

The National Trust for Scotland is set to enter the third and final year of its ambitious project to meticulously document an estimated 100,000 plants across its 39 major gardens.

A 343-year mystery has been solved at one of the oldest residential buildings in Inverness, Abertarff House, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.

This April, people from across the world will come together with the National Trust for Scotland to mark the 277th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden with a series of events.

Helensburgh’s Hill House, designed in 1902 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for publisher Walter Blackie, achieved another breakthrough this week, when it became the first Scottish dwelling to be listed on the prestigious and influential International Iconic Houses website www.iconichouses.org

Latest investigations by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists at Culloden Battlefield have recovered a wide range of artefacts, including a buckle they believe to be the shoe buckle of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, who led the 400-strong Camerons regiment into the battle.

Scotland’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, is encouraging Scots to make the most of the beautiful gardens, landscapes, and historic places it has to offer this spring.

Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland has confirmed that its conservation project to dry out Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece the Hill House in Helensburgh is working.

A new National Trust for Scotland exhibition at Broughton House, Kirkcudbright, brings together the Japanese souvenirs and East Asian plants from the home of Scottish ‘Glasgow Boy’ artist E.A Hornel.

The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating the 10th anniversary of funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the positive impact it has made to nature conservation at the special places in its care across the country.

A report published today has identified the three biggest threats from climate change to the UK’s only dual World Heritage Site, St Kilda. Warming land and sea temperatures, more frequent and severe storms and changes to ocean currents around St Kilda will make it even harder to conserve its unique built and natural heritage, the National Trust for Scotland has said.

Gardeners and buildings teams at the National Trust for Scotland are celebrating the completion of a complex project to repair, maintain, conserve and redecorate two historic glasshouses at Malleny Garden.

Scottish writer, actor and performer, Tom Conti, is the subject of the latest episode of the National Trust for Scotland’s podcast series, Love Scotland, hosted by Trust President and former broadcast anchor Jackie Bird, which is now available to listen to on all major platforms.

The National Trust for Scotland, the country’s largest independent conservation charity, is celebrating the successful completion of a complex 18-month conservation project after the doors of Craigievar Castle re-opened on Friday 31 May.

In June, there will be a significant opportunity to mark one of Scotland’s best known and most historically consequential battles: the National Trust for Scotland will be commemorating the 710th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn with a series of events to inform and entertain.

A new National Trust for Scotland exhibition of portraits by Allan Ramsay (1713–1784), at the Georgian House in Edinburgh, decodes fashion in the 1700s and the crucial role it played for Edinburgh’s high society women during this period.

A fairytale castle inspired its latest gin, the National Trust for Scotland has revealed, as World Gin Day approaches. Pink Castle Gin was inspired by the conservation charity’s Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire, which reopened to visitors last weekend following a major conservation project.

The National Trust for Scotland is calling for the Scottish Government to intervene to stop a damaging new development on land of the historic and internationally important Bannockburn Battlefield.

The National Trust for Scotland is set to transport visitors back in time on one its new Fossil Walks, where they will follow in the footsteps of famous Scots geologist Hugh Miller to discover the prehistoric past of the town where he was born.

Little adventurers and big kids at heart will be able to enjoy a new kind of play experience with the opening of Little Oaks, a new natural play area, at the National Trust for Scotland’s Drum Castle on 15th June, just in time for the summer holidays.

Fly away to Neverland this summer with the National Trust for Scotland as it stages a new musical production of Peter Pan in the beautiful surroundings of Greenbank House and Garden in Glasgow.

A new art exhibition capturing the beauty of Loch Ewe and the surrounding landscape is set to take place at Inverewe Garden as part of a new arts programme by the National Trust for Scotland.

A group of National Trust for Scotland volunteers from across Edinburgh have re-created a dress worn in one of the Allan Ramsay’s portraits on display as part of a new exhibition taking place at Georgian House in the capital.

The popular Love Scotland podcast launches its ninth series this Friday, 5 July, exploring a range of fascinating subjects from fashion in Scotland to Munro-bagging, the darker side of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, and the complex project to conserve St Kilda Kirk.

The National Trust for Scotland has launched its annual Footpath Fund appeal to raise funds to support the maintenance and repair of more than 300 miles of paths as 2024 visitor numbers to the charity’s countryside locations increase by 10 percent so far.

Fond memories of days spent exploring the special places cared for by National Trust for Scotland as a child, inspired Perthshire local, Angus Todd, to follow a career in nature conservation.

The National Trust for Scotland has welcomed a new ranger to its ranks to support the charity with its nature conservation work at Grey Mare’s Tail, near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway.

With summer holidays in full swing across the country and many families keen to hear of new ideas to keep kids busy over the next few weeks, research for the National Trust for Scotland found that the best way to keep young children entertained is by exploring outdoors.

Marking 40 remarkable years in the National Trust for Scotland’s care, Fyvie Castle, Garden & Estate is set to host 1644 – Travel Back in Time this August - a jam-packed weekend of history, action and family fun.

Seabird experts at the National Trust for Scotland have raised concerns after observing a slow start to the seabird breeding season, which runs from April to September each year, and a reduction in nesting activity for key species such as Fulmars, Guillemots and Shags.

Conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland is asking its 330,000 plus members and the public to support its campaign to protect one of the last remnants of the Bannockburn Battlefield in Stirling.

Gales, rough seas, nesting birds and the risk of non-native species arriving are just a few of the challenges National Trust for Scotland staff and contractors have faced during work on a major project to conserve the St Kilda Kirk, as its 200th anniversary approaches.

The National Trust for Scotland has welcomed the donation of a classical music recital from esteemed pianist Janusz Piotrowicz, which is set to entertain visitors at Brodie Castle this August.

Visitors to Corrieshalloch Gorge Gateway to Nature can now discover new areas of the Wester Ross gorge following more improvements by the National Trust for Scotland, a year after its opening.

A new art exhibition capturing the essence of exploring the innate character and possibility of beauty is set to take place at Inverewe Garden as part of the National Trust for Scotland's new arts programme.

The Edinburgh Members' Centre of the National Trust for Scotland recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special gathering of members and local Trust colleagues.

The National Trust for Scotland and 3 SCOTS have joined forces as part of the army's Global Charge Initiative to promote the well-being of its soldiers while helping to care for Culloden Battlefield.

The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Fair Isle coming under its care after the conservation charity acquired the island from renowned ornithologist, George Waterston on 3 September 1954.

Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum has welcomed a donation of fossils from Dingwall Museum that is set to delight visitors to the former home of the renowned Scottish geologist, in Cromarty, near Inverness.

A joint exhibition shining a light on the often-overlooked art of embroidery runs in Edinburgh from 25 October 2024 – 18 January 2025. Taking place at Dovecot Studios, the exhibition features more than 80 pieces from the National Trust for Scotland’s collections around the country. Many have never been on public display before.

Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland has announced initiatives to determine and secure the future of Fyvie Castle and Estate, near Turriff, Aberdeenshire as a thriving heritage attraction.

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of its acquisition of the House of the Binns in 1944, Scotland’s largest conservation charity is hoisting a flag on the prominent Binns Tower -for the first time in almost a decade.

The team at Inverewe Garden has completed a project to restore the flower bed in front of Inverewe House, known as the ‘Heart of Inverewe Garden,’ thanks to generous donations to the National Trust for Scotland.

The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating autumn harvest by inviting people to its annual Apple events across the country.

A major repairs project has commenced on Staffa in the Inner Hebrides to upgrade the landing jetty and improve accessibility to one of Scotland’s most beloved islands, cared for by the Trust.

Scotland’s largest conservation charity is inviting visitors to celebrate the birthday of the Highland’s most famous fossil hunter. The team at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, will celebrate Cromarty-born Hugh Miller’s 222nd birthday with events from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 October.

Brodie Castle is set to welcome visitors to its annual Brodie Illuminated event from 1 November – 24 November, with visitors invited to explore this year’s theme of playfulness through creative light installations designed to highlight fun and imagination.

The National Trust for Scotland has bolstered its team to conserve Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve’s collection of nationally rare and scarce mountain plant species, one of the largest in Britain.

Renowned Kelpies’ sculptor Andy Scott has revealed hopes to create a sculpture of Margaret Macdonald, the influential visual artist who worked closely with her husband Charles Rennie Mackintosh on many projects. Scott shared his wish with Jackie Bird in the 100th episode of the National Trust for Scotland’s podcast, Love Scotland, released on Friday 18 October.

In a thrilling quest to uncover secrets from one of Scotland’s most significant historical sites, archaeologists and volunteers have begun a remarkable dig at Culloden Battlefield, where the course of British, European and world history changed dramatically nearly 280 years ago.

A professional report commissioned by Scotland’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust for Scotland, reveals that a planning submission submitted to Stirling Council for a horse-trotting track on the site of the historic Bannockburn battlefield and the council’s assessment of it are “fundamentally flawed.”

A group of primary schoolchildren from Ayr have created a new guided walk at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Cottage thanks to a new education project by the National Trust for Scotland.

The National Trust for Scotland has recorded a promising corncrake population on Canna after years of low numbers on the island, which is an important step forward in the conservation of this endangered bird.

Work has commenced to re-thatch the roof of the historic Bachelors’ Club, the site of Robert Burns’ social club where in the late 1700s, he learned to dance, became a freemason, and created a debating society.

A picnic spot enjoyed by Queen Victoria on her visits to Balmoral has been saved from ruin by the National Trust for Scotland. The picnic cottage in woodlands near Linn of Quoich on Mar Lodge Estate, Scotland’s largest national nature reserve, has been restored to its former glory.