Must See Scottish Castles – Part 2

Here’s part two of your guide to seeing the best castles in or near Edinburgh. Download the entire Castles guide for free at the Edinburgh page on NileGuide.com!

Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle

Information provided by Historic Scotland.

Situated on the A68 road (3 miles south-east of the city centre), Craigmillar Castle was first recorded as a fortress in 1212. It is one of Scotland’s most perfectly preserved medieval strongholds and has as its heart a lofty, late 14th century tower house.  This provides superb views over the surrounding gardens and parklands which are a reminder of the castle’s days as a rural retreat on the edge of Scotland’s capital city.

The story of Craigmillar is linked with that of Mary Queen of Scots who is said to have slept there in the so-called ‘Queen Mary’s Room’ (It’s tiny! Only 7 feet by 5 feet). And it was here that the death of Mary’s husband Lord Darnley was plotted by conspirators.

While the Castle grounds are stunning, just be wary of the surrounding area. Craigmillar is regarded as a pretty shady area by locals. Don’t come here at night or alone.

Opening hours:

1 April – 30 September, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm

1 October – 31 October , Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

1 November – 31 March, Mon Tue Wed Sat Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

Tickets:

Adult £4.20, Child £2.50, Concession £3.40

Dirleton Castle

Dirleton Castle

Information courtesy of Historic Scotland.

Located in the village of Dirleton (about a 40 minute drive from Edinburgh) and considered to be one of Scotland’s oldest surviving strongholds, Dirleton Castle is an impressive, romantic property dating back to the 13th century. For 400 years it stood as a magnificent fortified residence for three successive noble families: the de Vauxs, the Halyburtons and the Ruthvens. The subsequent downfall of the Ruthvens saw the castle abandoned as a noble residence.

The siege by Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers in 1650 rendered it militarily unserviceable. When the Nisbets purchased the estate in the 1660s, they built a new mansion house, Archerfield, nearby. But they didn’t forget the ancient castle. The graceful ruins became an eye-catching feature in their new designed landscape.

The gardens that grace the castle grounds today date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The formal Victorian west garden – with its foliage plants and pelargoniums – was faithfully reconstructed in 1993. The beautiful north garden dates from the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1920s, and its fragrant herbaceous borders are the first thing the visitor sees on entering the property.

Opening hours:

1 April – 30 September, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.

1 October – 31 March, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

Tickets:

Adult £4.70, Child £2.80, Concession £3.80

Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle

Information from Historic Scotland website.

Situated by the sea, mighty Tantallon Castle was built in the 1350s by a nobleman at the height of his power. In 1354, William Douglas came into possession of all his father’s lands, as well as those of his uncle, ‘the Good Sir James of Douglas’, a close friend of King Robert Bruce. The estates included the barony of North Berwick. In 1358 William was created Earl of Douglas, by which date the builders may already have begun to build his new stronghold. In the 1380s the dynastic house of Douglas split into two branches, known as the ‘Black’ and the ‘Red’. Tantallon passed to the junior line, the ‘Red Douglases’, Earls of Angus. For the next 300 years, the earls of Angus held sway at the castle, acting out their role as one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland. During that time it endured three great sieges, in 1491, 1528 and 1651. The last, by Oliver Cromwell’s army, resulted in such devastating destruction that the mighty medieval fortress was abandoned to the birds.

Tantallon was the last truly great castle built in Scotland. Its architecture harked back to the mighty stone castles of enclosure of the 13th century, such as Bothwell Castle. These were characterized by enormously thick and high stone walls enclosing large closes, or courtyards. Lofty stone towers projected from the great curtain, wherein the noble life was lived.

Tantallon’s plan differs from most great 13th-century enclosure castles only because of its situation, at the edge of a promontory. Although the curtain wall enclosed the entire site, the castle only needed formidable defenses along the landward side. That great curtain wall of red sandstone still stands remarkably entire, as do the three towers in which the mighty earls of Angus and their henchmen lived their lives.

Visitors can enjoy wild flowers in season and touch the replica cannon. Refreshments are available in the visitor center.

Opening hours:

1 April – 30 September, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm

1 October – 31 October, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

1 November – 31 March, Mon Tue Wed Sat Sun, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

Tickets:

Adult £4.70, Child £2.80, Concession £3.80

[Photo credits: Craigmillar Castle by Nederlands; Dirleton Castle by Historic Scotland; Tantallon Castle by Ben]