LONDON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Edinburgh Castle, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Scotland, opened its gates Saturday for the first time since March.
With COVID-19 lockdown rules in Scotland easing, the castle, perched on a rock high above the Scottish capital city, reopened along with two other major historic sites, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle.
Following a thorough process to ready the site for the safe return of staff and visitors, visitors to the world famous fortress are once again be able to enjoy the castle's historic outdoor spaces and stunning views of the city skyline.
"A number of new safety and hygiene measures will be in place at the castles. Capacity will be reduced on site, one-way systems will be in place in some locations, and access to small enclosed spaces where physical distancing is not possible will be restricted," said Historic Environment Scotland (HES), custodian of Edinburgh Castle.
Visitors are also required to wear face coverings when entering the retail shops, in line with Scottish government guidance.
"It has taken a significant amount of planning to reach this point, and I'm very proud of the efforts of all of our staff who have been instrumental in making these sites ready to safely welcome visitors once again." said Alex Paterson, chief executive of HES.
"The tourism sector will be central to Scotland's national recovery, and our historic attractions are a key part of that tourism offering," Paterson added. Enditem
