A FAMOUS UK castle is being turned into a ‘world-class tourist attraction’ with a major £10million development.
The Scottish palace with over 1,000 years of royal history is getting a dramatic facelift, and it’s set to become an exciting new tourist destination.
The £10million makeover has been approvedCredit: Scone Estates
Scone Palace is a Category A listed building
The spectacular Scone Palace is a listed historic house near the village of Scone in Scotland, which is close to the city of in Perthshire.
The palace, where kings including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce were crowned, is set for a massive transformation after plans for a “world-class visitor attraction” were approved this week.
The stunning redevelopment will see the fomrer stables turned into a modern visitor centre complete with a restaurant, shop and ticket office, as well as a huge adventure play park and solar meadow with 2,000 panels.
There will also be new walking and routes from Stormontfield Road.
The £10million project has been a decade in the making, with local councillors finally giving it the green light on Wednesday after years of debate.
The revamp comes just in time for the palace’s 60th anniversary of opening to the public next year, marking a new chapter in the site’s long royal story.
Although the plans were given the go-ahead, councillors insisted on a few tweaks.
Most notably, the proposal to finish the stables in shiny copper cladding was scrapped, with Perth and Kinross Council’s Conservation team saying this look was “not appropriate” for such a historic building.
Viscount William Stormont, whose family has owned for generations, said the upgrade would help the famous site “punch high” in Scotland’s increasingly competitive tourism scene.
He said: “We – and indeed Perth Museum – need to compete with the likes of the and Stirling Castle to draw people to visit and stay in Perth.
“Visitor expectations have increased. Visitors demand special and memorable experiences. Our unique heritage in the stories we tell meet expectations.
Our interpretation and facilities do not. This is why the stables project is so important to Perth, Scone and the region.”
He added: “Next year is a special year, our 60th anniversary of opening to the public – a bold decision my great grandparents made and committed huge resource to.
“It is our hope that the stables project will allow Scone to prosper anew for the next 60 years.”
Convener Councillor Ian Massie said: “This proposal is not only ambitious in scope but deeply respectful of our heritage.
“The development at Scone Palace represents a rare opportunity to enhance one of Scotland’s most historically significant landmarks, while securing its future as a sustainable, inclusive and economically vibrant destination.”
Next year Scone Palace celebrates 60 years of being open to the public
Macbeth and Robert the Bruce were famously crowned at the castle 
