An exhibition titled ‘Celebrating Scotland’s Landscapes’ opened at Fort George, near Inverness, on 17 January and offers a unique perspective of Scotland by presenting aerial imagery from the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP). It aims to highlight the country’s well-known landscapes in innovative ways while uncovering historical narratives that span millions of years.
The exhibition explores significant themes such as ancient communities and contemporary remnants, examining the influence of human activity on the natural environment. It traces our earliest alterations to the landscape and investigates the interactions between people and their surroundings over millennia.
Claire Whitbread, Exhibitions Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, said:
“We’re thrilled to be kicking off 2025 by bringing this exciting exhibition to one of our iconic sites and an imposing fortification, Fort George. ‘Celebrating Scotland’s Landscapes’ looks at our heritage from a new angle, thanks to Scotland’s amazing collection of aerial photography that continues to inspire our understanding of the past.”
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to experience these impactful images for themselves and to dive into the history of how we have shaped and lived with the landscape, all from a different perspective.”
National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP)
NCAP, a division of Historic Environment Scotland, possesses one of the most important collections of aerial photography globally, comprising 30 million images. This extensive archive presents a distinctive perspective on pivotal events in world history, featuring rare photographs from the 1920s as well as declassified reconnaissance images from the Ministry of Defence related to the Second World War and the Cold War.
NCAP has established itself as the foremost institution for the management of aerial photographic collections, consistently acquiring new imagery through various survey and research initiatives while leading innovative digitisation projects to enhance public access to these collections. With images sourced from every continent, many of which were previously inaccessible to the public, NCAP offers a remarkable dataset that is drawing in new users and applications. In the upcoming months, additional online resources will facilitate even greater exploration of these collections.
Booking information: ‘Celebrating Scotland’s Landscapes’ is open daily from Friday 17 January until Sunday 27 April 2025. Entry to the exhibition is included with entry to Fort George. From 1 October to 31 March, Fort George is open daily from 10am to 4pm (last entry 3pm). From 1 April to 30 September, the site is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm). Daytime entry to sites is free for Historic Scotland members.
