Our work

Is the National Trust for Scotland a charity?

Yes! We are an independent charity that protects and shares some of our country’s most precious historic places and natural landscapes on behalf of the people of Scotland.

With over 300,000 members we’re also the largest membership organisation in Scotland.

What does the National Trust for Scotland do?

Since 1931, we’ve pioneered public access to and shared ownership of some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and habitats in Scotland. We care for ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, mountain ranges and all the communities, plants and animals which depend upon them.

Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Glencoe National Nature Reserve, St Kilda, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, Culloden, Bannockburn and Ben Lomond are among the jewels that are familiar to anyone who has ever lived in or visited Scotland. These places mean so much to so many people. From the simple fun and happiness of taking the children around a country park, the exhilaration of being alone with only the sounds of the sea and the birds, and the quiet contemplation of great historical events to experiencing simple insights into the daily routines of lives once lived.

Together, the places and objects in our care tell the stories of Scotland and the Scots: how our people travelled and interacted with the wider world, taking with them their energy and values and returning with new ideas and treasures. Without our involvement, many of these places and things would have been lost forever to the damage caused by time, tide, climate, voracious pests and developers.

The phrase ‘conservation charity’ simply doesn’t do justice to the range of skills and experiences that our volunteers and staff bring to bear each day. Our 88 visited properties, 300,000+ artefacts and more than 76,000 hectares of countryside and gardens are brought to vivid life by armies of volunteers and staff, doing everything from guiding visitors to thatching cottages and building footpaths.

Each year we welcome 3 million visitors to our properties, and few realise how much effort and resources are needed to ensure their enjoyment, safety and wellbeing and that they learn something fascinating even on the most casual of trips.

We do more than welcome visitors – we also take Scotland’s heritage out into communities. Our outreach teams have programmes that target people from early years to adulthood, including planned outdoor learning experiences within school grounds, in urban green spaces and the great outdoors. We offer free services to primary schools within areas of multiple deprivation and groups within schools that face social, cultural, financial or physical barriers.

Around 80,000 school children visit each year and we offer a range of experiences, ensuring that the stories of Scotland are received by young minds hungry for knowledge so that they can be shared and passed onto new generations.

As a membership organisation we’re governed by a Board of Trustees, most of whom are directly elected by our members and who must be Trust members themselves. They’re accountable to no-one but our membership, and their duty is to ensure the long-term protection of Scotland’s heritage.

Under the unique powers given to us under the National Trust for Scotland Order Confirmation Acts 1935–1973 (amended in the National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc.) Act 2013) we have the ability to enter into legally binding conservation agreements that enable us to protect important places that we don’t own, reinforcing our mission to speak up for all of Scotland’s heritage wherever and whenever it’s under threat.

As the Trust is independent and not part of government, we’re free to raise our voice when we need to, challenging politicians, policy-makers and commercial interests, as well as offering constructive advice based on the hard-won experience of nearly 90 years of pioneering conservation work.

We reach out internationally, directly through our USA and Canadian Foundations, as well as through our INTO partners, such as the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring our members enjoy reciprocal rights and that we all work together for the cause of world heritage.

Between 2018 and 2023 we’re investing £60 million in conserving our properties and bringing about new innovations to enhance visitor experiences and present Scotland’s stories in new and appealing ways.

We can’t do this without you. Please join us and support us.