Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a wonderful old city
filled with history and medieval buildings, tourist attractions and great
restaurants. It's a good home-base for a research trip or vacation and you
won't need a rental car… if you're willing to walk and take the bus or train. (Parking
in Edinburgh is a nightmare anyway.) I've explored several amazing castles in
and around Edinburgh. Some are opulent royal residences, while others are
crumbling, atmospheric ruins.
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| Edinburgh Castle |
The most iconic castle in Edinburgh is, of course, Edinburgh Castle. It sits high atop
Castle Rock, a volcanic plug, and looks out over the city. Archeological
evidence suggests this rock has been inhabited since the second century AD. One
building at Edinburgh Castle, St. Margaret's Chapel, is considered the oldest
building in Edinburgh, built in the early 1100s by King David I and named in
honor of his mother. The great hall was built in the early 1500s. The castle
was a royal residence until 1633. After that, it was used as a military barracks.
Research has established that the castle was besieged 26 times in 1100 years
making it "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most
attacked in the world." And now it is Scotland's most visited paid tourist
attraction.
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| Holyrood Palace |
Holyrood Palace
is also known as the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is the British monarchy's
official residence in Scotland, and the Queen stays there for one week per year
at the beginning of summer. This palace sits at the bottom of the Royal Mile,
while Edinburgh Castle sits at the top. Attached to one side of the ruins of
Holyrood Abbey, the palace was the main residence for the Kings and Queens of
Scots since the 1500s. When the royal family isn't in residence, the castle is
open for tours. One of the main features is the apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots,
which date from the 1500s.
The 16th century north-west tower was built by
King James V. The main part of the palace as it appears today was built between
1671 and 1678 in the Baroque style for Charles II when he was restored to the
monarchy. What a contrast this elegant palace is to the next three castles on
my list.
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| Craigmillar Castle |
Craigmillar Castle,
mostly a ruin, is about three miles outside the Edinburgh city center. We took
the bus, then walked about a mile through parkland fields and over a hill. It
was my birthday, so I considered this a wonderful present to myself. There's
nothing I enjoy more than exploring castle ruins.
Craigmillar is what many call a hidden gem. Prior to some
episodes of Outlander being filmed
there, it was not considered a major tourist attraction. Not like the previous
two castles, anyway. I have to say this was one of my favorite castles because
it was a great surprise. I liked it better than I thought I would. It's filled
with all sorts of nooks and crannies to investigate. There are several floors
and rooms that changed purposes over the years. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here
at times and had a room or apartment.
The views from the battlements over the Scottish countryside
are amazing. The buildings on this site were started in the 14th
century by the Preston family who were barons. The building and improvements
continued over the centuries. Sir John Gilmour, Lord President of the Court of
Session, bought Craigmillar and made improvements in 1660. The Gilmours left in
the 1700s and the castle fell into ruin.
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| Dirleton Castle |
Dirleton Castle
is less than 25 miles from Edinburgh, and accessible by either car or bus. The
walk from the front gate through the beautiful walled garden was a wonderful
experience. It was September and many flowers were still blooming. Dirleton is another
amazing ruin. Different parts of the castle were built during different stages
over the centuries. Some of the towers date from the 1200s and are among the
oldest surviving architecture in Scotland. The oldest section was built by John
de Vaux.
In 1298, during the Wars of Independence, Dirleton Castle
was attacked and captured by Edward I of England. In 1356, the next Lord of
Dirleton was John Haliburton who renovated the damaged castle and made new
additions. In 1510, the Ruthvens acquired Dirleton and made further
improvements. Oliver Cromwell attacked the castle in 1650, as he did so many
Scottish castles, turning it into a tragic but romantic ruin. In the 1660s, the
Nisbets bought the estate and built a new mansion and developed the gardens
around the castle. The castle contains a lot of historical information and is
fantastic for research.
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| Tantallon Castle |
Although Tantallon
Castle isn't in Edinburgh, it is a short train ride away, close to North
Berwick on the east coast. We visited it one day and were back to Edinburgh by
that evening. The trip out on the train was so smooth, quiet and relaxing. Very
few passengers. I had no idea a train ride could be so peaceful. Once we got
off in North Berwick, we located the correct bus and rode 3 miles further to
the castle, which is out in farm country on the shore of the North Sea. In the
photo, that's a huge field of leeks in front of the castle. I'm sure they eat a
lot of leeks in Scotland in their famous cock-a-leekie soup, made of chicken
and leeks.
I had wanted to visit Tantallon for many years and it was
everything I'd imagined and more. The castle is huge with lots of floors,
wings, stairwells, rooms, battlements, etc. to explore. The Bass Rock sits just
off the rocky cliffs of the shoreline.
Tantallon was started in 1358 by William, the 1st
Earl of Douglas. In the 1380s it passed to the Earl of Angus and the Red
Douglas dynasty. They owned the castle for 300 years and had many conflicts
with the monarchy. Tantallon is considered the last great castle built in
Scotland. In 1651 Cromwell attacked Tantallon causing such destruction that it
fell into ruin.
Thank you for taking these wee virtual visits with me to
five wonderful Scottish castles!
Vonda
Highlander Entangled
Lady
Kristina MacQueen suffered devastating injuries at the hands of a ruthless
Highland chief, Blackburn MacCromar. Two years later, he kidnaps her for a
journey across the chilly, windblown Scottish Highlands to flush out her
sister, Anna—the woman Blackburn forced to wed him. Red Holme, Blackburn's
second-in-command, is equally brutal and determined to possess Kristina.
A Highland warrior and future chief, Colin Cameron has no intention of becoming
entangled in the whims of another highborn lady. However, upon witnessing Lady
Kristina being held hostage by the enemy, a knife to her throat, he resolves to
rescue her and bring her to safety. When Red Holme sees Colin Cameron, he
recognizes his enemy from a decade earlier and craves revenge even more than he
lusts for the lady. But he is determined to have both.
Colin is the most charismatic and heroic man Kristina has ever met, and he
awakens her woman's instincts. He might be her only chance to experience a
brief moment of passion. Even so, she holds no illusions about marriage, for no
worthy man will find her blindness and scars appealing, or see them as
beneficial traits in a wife. But she can't see how he looks at her. Though
Colin has sworn to never fall in love again, he cannot defend his heart against
the strong, spirited and lovely lass who is like none other he has ever met.
