Edinburgh Castle

On our first full day in Edinburgh, we toured Edinburgh Castle and Climbed Arthur’s Seat. Due to the amount of photos taken, Arthur’s seat will get it’s own post next week! Here is a link back to our entire Scotland Itinerary.

We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel buffet. The one surprise for us coming from the US was having baked beans as a selection at every breakfast!

Getting to the Castle:

After breakfast, we took the tram back to the Princes Street Stop. We left with enough time to walk through the gardens on the way to the castle prior to the opening.

We still beat most of the crowds to the gate and bought our tickets. After checking the math, we decided not to buy an Explorer Pass for multiple locations. This is a great option if you’re going to visit many of the places included in the pass. All of the locations we visited also offered a “senior” discount price for tickets which Evan’s dad was able to take advantage of.

We did not follow any of the guides, but rather meandered around at our own pace. Somehow, we managed to stay away from most of the people. This website was great for planning as well as using Rick Steves. I also bought the guide book with my ticket. I spent most of the tour reading aloud from the guide book to Evan, his dad and Tim. The castle’s official website is the best resource for current admission prices as well as opening hours.

A Brief History:

Edinburgh was a royal city by 1093 and the capital of Scotland by a least the 1300’s. The castle became the residence of James III in the 1400’s. The castle grounds itself dates back to the bronze age with people living atop the volcanic rock since at least that time period. Parts of the castle today date back to the 12th century. The oldest structure still standing is the 12th century chapel dedicated to St Margaret.

Princes Street Gardens:

We chose to walk through the gardens to get to the castle not knowing the entrance at the top was blocked with a gate. We may have climbed over to get to the castle entrance… We chose an amazing time to visit Edinburgh as all the flowers and trees were blooming.

Entrance to the gardens near the tram stop

Walking into the gardens

The path gave a beautiful view of the Castle.

Ambling through the gardens

Castle Walls

Viewing the sides of the castle from the garden paths gave an amazing perspective of the size and scope of the castle fortifications.

Views from the Top

After reaching the end of the walk, we gained amazing views over the city.

Touring the Castle

Mons Meg: 15th Century Cannon

Queen Mary’s Chamber

Inside St Margaret’s Chapel: Edinburgh’s Oldest  Building (~1120)

We also toured the area housing the Scottish Crown Jewels; however, no photography was allowed. The castle grounds are home to the National War Memorial and the National Warm Museum Scotland as well.

Take Away:

The castle was beautiful. Its so amazing to stand in at a place with such a long rich history. The castle is a popular attraction and becomes quite crowded, so I am glad we toured first thing in the morning. After finishing the tour, we walked down the Royal Mile stopping for lunch before continuing on to Arthur’s Seat. Stay tuned next week for our first hiking experience!

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