Edinburgh Castle is an impressive landmark fortress atop Castle Hill in Edinburgh Scotland.
Castle Hill has been a military site at least since the Iron Age. There has been a castle here at least since the reign of David I in the 1100s.
We enter through the Portcullis Gate
If you are nearby at 1.00 pm, you'll hear the 105 mm field gun, which replaced the original 64-pounder. The tradition began in 1861-- ships on the Firth of Forth could set the ship's clocks.
The next stop on the included audio tour is the Argyle Battery.
Looking over the walls, you can see fabulous views of the city and the obvious advantage of the castle's location for defense.
Prisoners were kept here since the 1700s. There were pirates of the Caribbean, POWs from the Battle of Trafalgar, and rebel colonists captured in the American War of Independence. We bent our heads and entered the dark passage ways to view their bunks and places where the ate and played games.
After exiting from the prison into Crown Square, there are a few places to visit.
There's a place of reflection honouring those who died in the defense of the nation. Photos are not permitted inside the National War Memorial.
There are fabulous crown jewels.
But photos were not permitted. In 2022, the Stone of Scone was on display. That's the stone upon which the Kings and Queens have been crowned for centuries. For hundreds of years it was in Westminster Abbey in London but it has been returned to the Scots.
The Great Hall is a stunning display of colour constructed for King James IV in 1511. When Cromwell captured the castle in 1650, he turned it into a barracks. Check out the amazing wooden ceiling.
We work our way toward the top of the castle where we find a tribute to Mons Meg.
The Mons Meg has different origin stories. It appears to have come from Flanders and dates from the 1400s. It takes 386 pound cannonballs. It had been taken to the Tower of London in 1754 but was returned in 1829.
Nearby is Edinburgh's oldest building, St Margaret's Chapel. It was built by King David I about 1130 and dedicated to his mother. Margaret was a Saxon princess who escaped England during the Norman invasion.
Following are a few views of Edinburgh from the castle walls.
There is an entrance fee.
Our English Heritage card was honoured
The audio guide is worth having. You enter the numbers found on various locations throughout the castle.
You can eat in the Tea Rooms in Crown Square or have a meal in the Redcoat Café.
There are shops at the castle and online.
Learn more at the website https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/
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