Some of Scotland’s most iconic heritage sites are now available to view virtually. Google Street View has launched a new collection of historic Scottish sites, allowing people to now explore a number of the nation’s picturesque castles, forts and abbeys from their phone, tablet or computer. Partnering with Historic Scotland, the project captured sixteen landmarks in total, covering the length and breadth of Scotland.

Sites featured range from Stirling Castle, with its magnificent renaissance palace, to Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, the final resting place of many Scottish Kings and Queens. Other participating sites include Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness and Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway.

With 360-degree interactive imagery, people all over the world can see and explore the iconic sites before they go, including some remote and hard-to-reach places they may never have discovered on their own.

Commenting on the launch, Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism at Historic Scotland, said:

“We are pleased to have partnered with Google Street View to work on this new collection which showcases online a number of our properties from across Scotland.

“This technology will allow visitors, no matter where they are in the world, to get a taste of several of our properties in a new way. We hope that it will encourage them to visit and further their discovery of these magnificent historic sites and properties in person.”

The sites were captured in July this year using the Google Street View Trekker, in partnership with Historic Scotland. The Trekker – a four-foot, 40lbs backpack, fitted with a 15-angle lens camera, taking 360 degree pictures every 2.5 seconds – is designed to capture imagery in locations that the Street View car can’t typically reach.

About Street View: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/