Angus’s biggest tourist attraction is targeting a mid-June re-opening for its famous Queen Mother Memorial gates.
Glamis Castle was bathed in a spectacular Thursday night light show in honour of the NHS and bosses at the ancient landmark are now working towards welcoming visitors back to its gardens and grounds.
However, tours inside the Queen Mother’s childhood home are to remain on hold.
Angus Alive lit the ancient landmark in the finale to a programme which has also seen locations including Forfar’s Balmashanner war memorial and the Peter Pan statue in Kirriemuir illuminated in appreciation of NHS and frontline workers.
Strathmore Estates factor William Inglis said: “The gates for Glamis Castle have been closed for a little over nine weeks and whilst we still have some time to go before the castle will be allowed to function fully again, it is really exciting that there is a new direction to the coronavirus restrictions.”
The lockdown relaxations have allowed the castle to begin to take bookings through its website for what will be tightly-controlled access to the extensive grounds and gardens at the attraction, which normally pulls in around 100,000 worldwide visitors annually.
Castle general manager Helen Buchanan said: “As the largest tourist attraction in Angus, we want to ensure our staff and visitors are safe when the castle re-opens.”
A one-way system and a limit on the number of daily arrivals will be put in place.
Meanwhile, Kirriemuir musician and writer Bobby Stickah will bring J M Barrie’s most famous characters to life this weekend in a lockdown performance for Peter Pan fans around the globe.
Bobby, who now lives in Cheshire, will read the whole of Peter Pan in a bid to raise funds for the Music Venue Trust grass roots crisis fund.
He will be broadcasting the performance on Facebook and You Tube.
