Edinburgh’s castles and palaces

Of course, our city’s most famous castle is Edinburgh Castle. Perched atop a volcanic rock, towering over the city below. This military fortress and beacon of Scottish strength and power is as formidable today as it always has been. Home to Scotland’s earlier kings and queens, with a rich and bloody history that goes back centuries. It has been sieged, sacked and stormed many times. It is now a world-renowned tourist attraction and a key element in the Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Be sure to catch the one o’clock gun, a cannon which the Master Gunner fires almost every day at exactly 1 pm.

From one ancient seat of power to another, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is just as significant as its medieval counterpart. Situated on the opposite end of the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse has been the chosen residence of kings and queens since the 15th century, when Edinburgh became the formal capital of Scotland. Today, it is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. You can visit the palace, see the royal chambers of Mary Queen of Scots, tour the gardens and search for the naked ghost said to roam its walls. But please note that the palace closes to the public each year from the end of June until the beginning of July, when the Queen is in town. 

Then, on the southeast outskirts of Edinburgh, we have Craigmillar Castle. A 14th-century castle, now in ruins, but one of the best-preserved in Scotland. With links to Mary, Queen of Scots. The castle took over 300 years to build, as its owners continued to extend and change it. So it has a very interesting layout, with lots of unusual spaces to explore. And you can climb the tower for great views over Edinburgh.

In the opposite direction, to the northwest of the city, Lauriston Castle is a tower house and it was a family home from its origins in around 1590 until 1926. Mr and Mrs Reid, the final owners of the property, left it to the people of Scotland. It is now a museum, exactly as the owners left it, with all its décor and contents intact. The extensive castle grounds are just as fascinating as the house. They include a beautiful and peaceful Japanese Friendship Garden, added in 2002. 

Castles and palaces near Edinburgh

The ruins of Crichton Castle lie 15 miles south east of Edinburgh, in Midlothian. Again, this is a Tower House and a former family home. Sitting high on a terrace, overlooking the River Tyne, it is one of the oldest remaining tower houses in Scotland. One of the highlights of a visit to Crichton Castle is the unique diamond-faceted facade, which dates from around 1580.

Built for the Chrichton family in around 1440, Blackness Castle later became a royal castle, fortress and prison. You might recognise it, as it has become a popular filming location in recent times. Featuring as the backdrop for movies and other productions, such as Outlander, Outlaw King and Mary Queen of Scots . The castle is located on the shores of the Firth of Forth, and you can climb the towers and curtain wall for amazing views across the water. 

Aberdour Castle, 19 miles from Edinburgh, could be the oldest standing castle in Scotland, although we don’t know for sure. We do know it was built in the 1100s and was added to in the centuries to follow. One highlight not to miss is a 17th-century painted ceiling, depicting fruit, foliage and emblems. 

And 20 miles away in West Lothian, Linlithgow Palace was the holiday home of choice for the royals of yesteryear. Once a royal residence for the Stewarts (not to mention the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots), Linlithgow Palace’s elegant design and stunning surrounds made it the ideal royal stopover for kings and queens travelling between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. Today, the palace lies in ruins. But despite its charred and battered exterior, Linlithgow Palace’s beautiful décor and extravagant courtyard continue to inspire visitors every year. It is home to wonderful events and was another filming location in the Outlander television series.