Historic Environment Scotland Signage & Interpretation Strategy

Client

Historic Environment Scotland

Role

Wayfinding strategy, signage & wayfinding, interpretation strategy, design guidelines

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

Project

Historic Scotland manages more than 300 properties, from castles and abbeys to industrial and landscape sites.

With such a varied estate, they needed a unified signage and wayfinding strategy and a consistent interpretation strategy that could work across every property, while still reflecting each site’s individual heritage and setting.

Historic Scotland Craigmillar Castle welcome signage

Historic Scotland outdoor information board, Edinburgh in the distance

Historic Scotland Doune Castle welcome signage design

Our approach

ABG Design developed overarching guidelines for signage, wayfinding, and interpretation, creating a flexible system that could be applied estate-wide.

We established a clear hierarchy, a heritage-sensitive visual language, and durable design specifications suitable for different environments and visitor needs. The strategy balanced consistency with local relevance, allowing each site to feel distinct within a shared framework.

Historic Scotland visitors reading map and guide

Solution

ABG Design delivered estate-wide signage, wayfinding, and interpretation strategies that reflect the character of Historic Scotland’s Properties in Care.

Craigmillar Castle — Mary Queen of Scots’ former royal retreat — was among the first sites to receive the new scheme. The refined colour palette, architectural sensitivity, and build quality have been strongly endorsed through visitor research, supporting clearer navigation and a richer, more connected visitor experience across the estate.