Craigmillar Castle
Address: Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SY
Craigmillar Castle is located in the south east of Edinburgh. It was built for the Preston family of Craigmillar between the 14th and 16th centuries, but by the 18th century it fell into ruin. Historic Scotland now own and run it as a tourist attraction. You can reach Craigmillar Castle by bus from the city centre. As the castle was extended and altered for many years, it has a very unusual layout.
At its entrance, there is a pair of Yew trees, believed to be over 400 years old. The tower house stands 17 metres high and offers fantastic views over the city. It’s one of the oldest in Scotland and contains a network of rooms, such as the Great Hall and ‘Queen Mary’s Room’, where Mary Queen of Scots is said to have slept. The tower house and courtyard are surrounded by a defensive wall, with ranges of buildings at the south-east, east, and west. There is also a large outer court and gardens.
5 things to do at Craigmillar Castle
- Explore the medieval castle’s many nooks and crannies.
- Visit the original 14th century tower house.
- Look for the keyhole-shaped gunholes in the 15th century courtyard wall.
- Walk around the castle grounds and find the remains of a unique fishpond in the shape of the letter P (for Preston).
- See the two striking Yew trees at the castle entrance, believed to have provided wood for bows and arrows in medieval times.
