The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has set out plans to reopen its sites in South Ayrshire including popular castles and museums from Monday.

Scotland will move to Level 3 of coronavirus restrictions on April 26, allowing tourist attractions to open for the first time since December.

But the Trust will stagger its reopenings, with Culzean Castle and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway opening from April 30 along with Brodick Castle on Arran, Pollock Castle in Glasgow and The Hill House in Helensburgh.

Ayr Advertiser: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

From the same date, the public will have access to Aberdeenshire castles such as Fraser, Crathes and Drum, as well as Haddo House in Ellon.

Visitor centres at the Balmacara Estate in the north-west Highlands, Culloden near Inverness, and the Glencoe and Glenfinnan Monument will also open on April 30. 

The Trust has introduced a booking system at some sites to manage numbers and maintain safe physical distancing.

NTS chief executive Philip Long said: “Everyone at the trust is looking forward to welcoming our visitors back to the beautiful places we protect.

“With the easing of travel restrictions across mainland Scotland, people are eager to visit the places that they love and our teams are hard at work preparing for reopening to give everyone a warm and, of course, safe welcome.

Ayr Advertiser: Brodick Castle, Arran.Brodick Castle, Arran.

“We’ll be reopening more of our built heritage in late May and across summer and our charity is very grateful to all of those whose support and generosity means we can reopen more properties than we’d thought would have been possible this year.

“So many people love these places and after such a difficult year, all of us at the trust are pleased to be able to share this positive news, and so many of our special places once again.”

Visitors are advised not to travel without pre-booking on each property’s website.

For more information, click here.