Political, Architectural, Royal and Military History – Edinburgh Castle, Scotland – Has It All.

I imagine there would be few visitors to Edinburgh, Scotland who do not spend an hour or two wandering the ancient paths and buildings that make up Edinburgh Castle. The Castle positively looms over the city and is even more imposing and threatening on a cold, and blustery Summer’s (Yes, you read that correctly) day.

While solid walls of monochrome grey stone may not be your idea of a must-see site, it’s the layers and layers of stories those stone walls contain that create the fascination.

Join me for a slow wander around Edinburgh Castle with about 2,000 of my closest friends! 😊

What:

• Edinburgh Castle has been the nominal, or actual, seat of power in Scotland since the 11^th century. Built on a rocky promontory, both the base and the walls of the Castle simply ooze history.
• To not get too overwhelmed by its long, colourful and complex history, I recommend you sign up for an audio guide (£4) or join one of the many guided tours. Otherwise, the place may come across as one grey mass of stone.

• The actual lead into the Castle and forecourt area are not really all that attractive. The seating stands and other infrastructure belonging to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are left in place, and all that bright plastic and metal supports do detract from the entrance to the Castle. In fact, it’s quite unsightly.
• Once through the main gate and Castle walls, the big reveal commences. I loved the textures of the old buildings, all of which have been lovingly restored. I spoke with a staff member about the ongoing restoration process and she said that they have a permanent team of skilled tradespeople. In addition, the Castle keeps the old skills alive by offering apprenticeships to train the next generation of artisans which, I believe, is highly commendable. She also said that unfortunately, the pay was pretty poor and, once trained, they often lose these young workers to better paying projects and jobs. Surely there is a message there?

• The Castle has been on the receiving end of countless attacks, invasions, sieges and power plays. So many, that it is a wonder the Castle is still standing!
• It’s not just one castle though and is more of a precinct as, within the walls, there are many stand-alone buildings that have fascinating histories all of their own.
• St Margaret’s Chapel is actually the oldest building in Edinburgh. Constructed in 1130, this small and plain church has a quiet dignity and power in its design which is a contrast to all the change, and turmoil that has occurred around it. Interestingly, only women called ‘Margaret’ are allowed to tend to the flowers in the chapel itself. I wonder what will happen when that name is no longer in fashion?

• The Crown Jewels of Scotland can be viewed by joining a long and winding queue. They are not as impressive as many other Crown Jewels on the UK tourist loop, but it is an important piece of Scotland’s heritage.
• Depending on your level of interest in military history, there are a couple of museums dedicated to various regiments that were based at, or connected to, the Castle throughout its history. That is not my cuppa at all and I preferred to look at the subterranean prisons (French, American and Irish people were frequent residents), David’s Tower buried under many other layers of historic buildings, and understanding the practical aspects of the Castle such as the Forewell.

• The Forewell was the only source of water for the Castle. It was used to capture rain water as there was no spring or other way of getting water into the Castle precinct. Needless to say, when a siege was under way all the attackers had to do was wait until the Castle residents ran out of water and the battle was won!
• A personal highlight of the Castle architecture was the Great Hall. I could really picture the pomp and ceremony of high-level meetings and banquets, probably a lot less civilised than the straightlaced tourists wandering through the hallowed hall.

Where:

• The address of the Castle is simply the Esplanade, Edinburgh.
• It can be found at the very top of the Royal Mile.

When:

• Opening Hours: The Castle’s opening hours vary depending on the time of year/season. Generally, it opens at 930am and last entry is 5pm. Also, I visited in the middle of Summer and it was very cold. Be prepared for all weather conditions, including rain.
• Go Early: It is strongly recommended to book early and book an early entry time. Entrance to the Castle is strictly controlled and once inside, you can spend as much time as you like. I entered at the 930am timeslot and it was busy even then, but nothing compared to when we left. It was manic!
• Allow Time: Allow at least two hours to have a good look around.

Why:

• It’s a fascinating place to explore the political, military, and royal history of Scotland.
• The views from the Castle are spectacular.

How:

• Book online as soon as you have your plans in place (around £23.50 per adult). You can also book your audio guide at the same time or purchase when you arrive.
• Walk: The Castle is a short walk up the Royal Mile and from most parts of the Old Town.
• You may be able to catch a taxi closer to the entrance, however I believe it becomes a pedestrian only area as the day progresses.

Who:

• Moving around the Castle may be a challenge for people who mobility issues. The paths can be steep and are mostly made of cobbles/stone. This may be even more of an issue after rain. I did note that they had wheelchairs available and some people appeared to be shuttled to different parts of the Castle by dedicated Castle vehicles.
• History Lovers will be beside themselves and it almost gets a bit overwhelming at times trying to keep track of all the dates, names and which party was in power at any one time.
• It was an absolute United Nations of people exploring the Castle. Every language seemed to be bubbling out of the crowds of visitors which added a nice cosmopolitan feel to the place. Although, I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting Edinburgh to be this busy.

There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh, and it’s not a cheap place to see and do everything on the list. However, Edinburgh Castle is a good way to understand how the city and the Nation of Scotland developed, as well as giving you a handy perspective of the broader city. Highly recommended.

If you were asked to recommend one castle to see in the World, which one would it be?

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