DOZENS of gardens and estates operated by the National Trust for Scotland will open to the public today for the first time since lockdown.

The charity has announced outdoor sites across Scotland will be available to welcome visitors as part of measures announced by the Scottish Government.

Of these, two will only open with timed entry to manage numbers and maintain safe physical distancing – Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire and Threave Garden in Dumfries and Galloway. More than 1000 slots have already been pre-booked in the first few days of Culzean tickets being made available online.

It comes after the charity said some indoor facilities may not reopen until the 2022/23 season including Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Hill of Tarvit, House of the Binns, Kippen Smiddy, Leith Hall, Holmwood and Souter Johnnie’s Cottage.