An historic Ayrshire castle once home to the grandson of Robert the Bruce has partially reopened after a masonry inspection.
Dundonald Castle is able to welcome back visitors after a probe into the impact of climate on the site was completed.
Castle bosses say the public will be able to access most of the castle with the upper floor and castle prison still encased in scaffolding amid ongoing works.
The iconic Laigh Hall has reopened with punters able to see its magnificent 650-year-old barrel-vault ceiling
The impressive 14th century hilltop fortified ruin, which towers above the village, has been looked after by charity Friends of Dundonald Castle (FoDC) who purchased the attraction from South Ayrshire Council last year.
The inspection of high-level masonry was carried out by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) as part of a nationwide precautionary review of landmarks.
It is understood wear and tear has been addressed at the medieval site.
FoDC general manager Dr Kirsteen Crol said: “As a key partnership site, our charity is extremely grateful to our colleagues at HES for prioritising the reopening of Dundonald Castle for all our community and visitors to enjoy.
“We are passionate about sharing our rich heritage with our visitors, from home and abroad, as a much-loved gem with a long and fascinating history spanning 3500 years.
“The castle also overlooks ancient woodland, containing SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and is situated on popular walking routes including the Smugglers’ Trail.”
Gary Love, project director at HES, said: “We are delighted that visitors will be able to explore Dundonald Castle once more, following the temporary access restrictions in place whilst we conducted essential high level masonry inspections to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the site, as part of a wider project of surveying work of high-level masonry.
“With over 5,000 years of history in our care, HES is committed to championing our historic environment, which tells Scotland’s story, and are pleased to be able to open the doors of Dundonald once more.”
Visitors can now book tickets to visit Dundonald Castle on the HES website or via the Dundonald Castle website, as well as enjoy the visitor centre, shop, and tearoom during their visit.
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