Forty eight of the 300-plus sites in Historic Environment Scotland's care have been shut down or are partially off-limits due to conservation work or other concerns.

Details of the closures come as it grapples with an estimated £842 million bill to repair and maintain its vast estate, made up of a collection of castles, abbeys, tower houses, monuments and ancient sites that form the backbone of Scotland's built heritage.

The agency insists that 95% of its locations remain accessible in some way.

However, frustration has been mounting among tour operators and visitors faced with locked gates, no go areas and obtrusive fencing at some of the country's most iconic landmarks.

In the case of Melrose Abbey in the Borders, which attracted over 60,000 visitors per year into Melrose prior to the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions have been in place since 2021 when the agency identified a potential safety risk from unstable masonry at high level.

It is said to face "complex conservation challenges".

One property, Argyll's Lodgings in Stirling, closed in 2017 for renovations and has not yet reopened.

Sweetheart Abbey in Dumfries is partly open with restrictions due masonry inspections (Image: Damian Shields/Visit Scotland)

The agency, which employs around 1600 people and receives £74m a year to look after and promote sites including Edinburgh Castle, pre-historic Skara Brae on Orkney and Linlithgow Palace, has been embroiled in a management crisis.

Meanwhile, The Herald has also revealed how HES faces a massive bill of around £842m for repairs and for retrofitting work to make the buildings in its care more energy efficient.

The agency has also been examining the future management of its properties against a background of climate change, risks from rising visitor numbers and a lack of traditional skills to maintain its assets.

It has previously confirmed that in some cases, an approach of 'managed decay' may come into play.

A nationwide programme to inspect more than 200 properties in its care with masonry exceeding 1.5 metres in height began in April 2022, when many properties were still recovering from the impact of the pandemic closures.

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It is not expected to be completed until next Spring however, it's likely that will trigger further closures at sites requiring repairs.

Tour specialist, Tom Miers, of Scottish Clans and Castles, says there is increasing frustration over the closures and restricted access at HES sites.

"Our feeling is that the situation hasn't improved much since Covid when all these security fences suddenly sprang up," he says.

"There are lots of places that are notionally open but still covered in these fences and crush barriers.

"Beautiful sites from Dryburgh Abbey to St Andrews Cathedral to Inverlochy Castle are blighted by these things.

"We've learned as tour operators to avoid them with our clients. They invariably provoke negative comments from visitors because they are so intrusive and ugly."

He adds: "What is so galling is that there is no good reason given for their presence.

"Did every HES property suddenly start falling down at the same time?

"Across the border in England any security fencing or warnings signs on equivalent sites are far more discreet.

"It seems the problem is bureaucratic/legalistic rather than based on genuine risk."

A number of HES sites are now closed as planned for the winter season.

However, according to HES, 19 sites - around 5% of its properties - are temporarily closed for conservation works or other reasons.

They include popular attractions such as 14th century Threave Castle in Castle Douglas and Kelso Abbey in the Borders.

Arbroath Abbey where internal areas are closed due to high level inspections (Image: Colin Mearns)

HES say conservation work is continually taking place across its sites and levels of access fluctuate.

An HES spokesperson says: "In April 2022, we launched a nationwide programme to inspect 200+ sites in our care with masonry exceeding 1.5 metres in height.

"Prioritising high-risk locations, we initially focused on 70 key sites.

"Parts of these sites were inaccessible to visitors while we inspected the risks and, if necessary, actioned needed repairs.

"Now, 95% of the estate is accessible, and the remaining high-level masonry inspections will complete by Easter 2026."

"Our teams are dedicated to inspecting and repairing the remaining sites as quickly as possible, but given unpredictable factors like the weather and the fact that we won't know the scale of needed repairs until the inspections have been carried out, we're unable to give specific time frames in terms of further sites re-opening currently."

The agency says the estimated £842m for repairs is a long-term figure which demonstrates the need for investment over time.

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"The figure comes from a holistic and indicative assessment of our investment need against a range of categories including conservation, visitor facing investment, non-heritage property, infrastructure, mechanical and electrical systems, and decarbonisation of our estate.

"Our Properties and Collections Strategy, which is currently out for consultation, will help to shape how we prioritise these demands while keeping visitor experience and visitor safety at the core of what we do.

"We have a significant challenge we need to deal with, and it is important we have an open conversation about how we manage this."

Craig Hoy MSP for South Scotland, whose area includes Melrose Abbey which has had restrictions in place since 2022, said: "These sites are vitally important to the local economy and for our local heritage. I am deeply concerned that they are still lying closed or partially unopened so many years on from the pandemic.

"Locals will be forgiven for wondering if there is any plan to ensure they fully re-open and once again attract tourists to the Borders and the South of Scotland.

"Given Historic Environment Scotland is funded by over £70m worth of taxpayers' money each year, they cannot allow the current scandal surrounding them to divert their attention away from the day job.

"They must press SNP ministers into giving them the resources they need to safely reopen these sites so they can be enjoyed again by locals and visitors as soon as possible."