Most historic sites are maintained either by the National Trust of Scotland or by Historic Scotland. Both offer memberships with free priority access and other discounts for a year or a lifetime - and have reciprocal arrangements with their English and Welsh equivalents. Depending on how much you get around and how long you are staying, they may well be worth buying... Membership also contributes to the sites' preservation and new acquisitions.
Historic Scotland
(http://www.historic-scotl...) - sites and prices, yearly membership starts at £34 adult, £65 family properties include Edinburgh and Stirling Castles. Historic Scotland also offers a 3-day Explorer Passthe National Trust of Scotland (http://www.nts.org.uk/) -sites and prices, yearly membership starts at £33 adult, £54 family properties include Craigievar and Crathes Castles, numerous wilderness areas
Spectator sport:
Football is easily the most popular spectator sport. That said, most teams rarely play to full houses, therefore if you are in Scotland between mid-August and mid-May you should be able to obtain tickets for a match. Rugby union is popular, nowhere more so than in the Borders region. The indigenous game of shinty is played mostly in the Highlands during the summer months.