From preserving our historic buildings, industrial legacy and the natural environment, to exploring and sharing collections, traditions, stories and more – money raised by National Lottery players has made a lasting impact across the nation.

To celebrate this £1bn milestone, we’re highlighting just a small selection of our favourite projects that show the breadth of our investment in Scotland’s heritage over three decades.

Helping historic habitats

Mar Lodge is 29,000 hectares of some of the most remote and scenic land in Scotland, with a broad range of habitats typical of the Highland landscape.

In 1995, we awarded National Trust Scotland £10million to purchase and conserve the land, which was at risk. Mar Lodge now has a 200-year preservation and biodiversity plan to restore woodland and embed traditional conservation skills locally. In 2017, it was awarded National Nature Reserve status and today welcomes hiking and nature enthusiasts from around the world.

Telling Scotland’s global story

In 2016, the National Museum of Scotland opened 10 new galleries showcasing science, technology, art, design and fashion. Our £5m funding supported the transformation and broadened access to the museum’s collection.

Three-quarters of the 3,000+ objects now on display – including the world’s first bionic arm and world famous Dolly the sheep – had not been seen by the public for at least a generation.

Almost a decade on, it remains one of the most visited museums in the UK outside London.

Remembering past generations

Scapa Flow, in Orkney, is one of the world's largest natural harbours and was used as a Royal Naval base during the First and Second World Wars. The Visitor Centre and Museum, created in 1990, tells the story of the thousands of service personnel stationed there over the years and the operations which took place in the area.

Our 2014 funding – totalling £1.1m – supported the development of a new building to house displays, a shop and café and accessible facilities, enabling the museum to attract more visitors and increase its organisational sustainability.

Transforming Glasgow’s riverside

One of our largest grants in Scotland – £2.1m – supported the creation of a new Riverside Museum on the banks of the Clyde. The project involved relocating Glasgow’s Museum of Transport to a new Zaha Hadid-designed building and extending the acclaimed Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, providing high-quality public access to Glasgow’s civic collection.

Since opening in 2011, the Riverside has been awarded 2013 European Museum of the Year and become a popular feature of Glasgow’s cultural scene.

Celebrating the life and impact of Robert Burns

In 2007, our support of £5.8m helped create the Burns Birthplace Museum, linking the Burns monument, Auld Kirk, Brig o Doon and the cottage where Burns was born with a new 1,600m2 museum and education pavilion. It was awarded five-star Visitor Attraction status in record time and has received numerous architecture and design awards.

In 2020, we further supported Ellisland Farm, which Burns built and where he wrote some of his best-known works, including Auld Land Syne.

Revitalising wildlife

Our £1.67m grant supported a pioneering conservation scheme that’s revitalised the golden eagle population in Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders.

Through a series of ground-breaking species relocations, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has seen numbers grow from just three breeding pairs in 2018 to a current population of more than 39 – the highest number recorded in 300 years.

Supporting a city of culture

Dundee is a great example of the place-wide impact our investment can deliver. In 2018, the V&A Dundee opened, attracting 100,000 art fans to the city in less than a month. Our funding made this important development possible.

To date, we’ve awarded £31.8m worth of grants in Dundee, including to:

•    restore the historic ship RRS Discovery
•    showcase the city’s industrial heritage at Verdant Works
•    save the beautiful McManus Galleries
•    transform the popular Baxter Park

Most recently, we invested £800,000 in HMS Unicorn: Project Safe Haven, which will safeguard and celebrate one of the most significant surviving wooden ships of the 19th century.

Protecting ancient history for future generations

Five thousand years ago ancient Hebrideans erected the Calanais Stones on the Isle of Lewis. Now they attract ever increasing numbers of visitors from around the world.

In 2023, we awarded nearly £3m to support major improvements at the site, including building a visitor centre and improving accessibility and interpretation.

Curious to see what the future holds for Scottish heritage? Discover more projects we're supporting in Scotland.