These 19th-century statues adorn the facade of the Scotch Whisky Experience, situated in front of the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. While the sculptures themselves have endured the passage of time, their horns have not been so fortunate.

With restoration work currently underway on the Scotch Whisky Experience building at the top of the Royal Mile, the opportunity has arisen to restore the unicorns to their full form.

Originally crafted from wood and lead, the replacement horns are being meticulously recreated by Ross Morris, head of facilities and IT at the Scotch Whisky Experience. An avid woodworker in his spare time, Morris has taken on the task of carving the new horns in his home workshop.

Once completed, the horns will be installed atop the building, with the goal of finishing the restoration in time for National Unicorn Day on April 9.

A spokesperson for the Scotch Whisky Experience stated: “According to myth and legend, unicorns are immortal creatures, meaning they can never die, but they do sometimes need a little TLC.

“Our magnificent unicorns, which crown our building on Castlehill, were originally crafted in the 1800s from sandstone, oak, and lead. While their spirit remains eternal, their oak horns did not.

“Additionally, these unicorns share a connection with other fascinating creatures, as they are believed to be sculpted from Corncockle sandstone, a material known for preserving ancient dinosaur footprints.”