Visiting Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
See the Coronation Stone and Royal Palace in this Scottish Castle
Jun 13, 2009
No trip to Edinburgh, Scotland would be complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The stone walls rise out of the rock pinnacle it sits on and the complex dominates the town below. The first impression is how impregnable the site was and the dread that must have seized any foot troops who were ordered to attack it.
Today, the tourist has it easy. After walking up ‘the Royal Mile’, a street of tourist shops and buskers with bagpipes, the visitor enters the huge forecourt which each year becomes the arena where the Military Tattoo is staged. The kilted sentries at the drawbridge over the moat, members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, are certainly armed, but not very dangerous to well-behaved tourists. The drawbridge is down; the portcullis is up. The only fight necessary to get in is to beat the hordes of other tourists to the ticket box.
Guided Tours of the Castle
Entrance price includes the opportunity to join one of the guided tours which depart every 15 minutes. The guide does not go through the rooms, but rather escorts the group round the castle grounds, points out the buildings that are open for inspection and elaborating on the historical significance of the castle and its various components. The tours are excellent for an initial orientation, informative and often good fun, as many of the guides are humorists and enjoy an audience.
What to See at Edinburgh Castle
Some of the buildings are closed to the public, especially those that are headquarters for the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Nevertheless, there is much to be seen including the 12 Century St Margaret’s Chapel, the Great Hall, the Royal Palace, the Queen’s Chambers where King James VI was born, the strongroom containing the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Coronation Stone and, of course, the dungeon which held prisoners-of -war during the American War of Independence.
Castle Armaments
The first thing the visitor notices on entering the castle is the profusion of cannons, either sticking out holes in the walls high above or standing in rows around the battlements. The guide will quickly explain that they have never been fired. In fact, they are completely out of place as they are old naval cannons that Queen Victoria thought would look impressive, so ordered them to be installed.
There is one huge medieval siege gun called Mons Meg, which split asunder on the last occasion (1681) it was fired. According to information supplied on site, it was presented to James II in 1457, used, in various places, against the English and now stands in the castle grounds alongside a mound of the most impressive stone cannon balls, which it could reputedly hurl 2 miles.
The One O’Clock Gun
The only gun to ever be fired from the castle is the “One O’clock Gun”, which was fired to allow sea captains down in the Firth of Forth to set their watches by. The need no longer exists but the tradition continues. The gun has been fired every day (except Sundays and Easter) for over 100 years.
The Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle
The Great Hall was the main banqueting chamer in the 16th Century, but Cromwell used it as barracks for his troops in 1650. The roof is medieval and, guides say, it was probably built by the King’s ship builders, as the ceiling closely resembles the inverted hull of a ship. The room contains some magnificent stained glass windows, glossy, intricate wall paneling and fireplaces, all from Victorian times. There is an astonishing array of swords, pistols and armour on display as well.
The Royal Palace Complex
This area has been dedicated to the history of kingship in Scotland and contains a timeline, figures representing various kings, history, historical tales and tableaux. The historical tableaux have magnificently -costumed models. The visitor winds through the rather spartan palace rooms and finishes in the strongroom housing the Scottish Crown Jewels and the enormously significant Stone of Destiny.
The Stone of Destiny or Coronation Stone
This rough red sandstone block is the stone on which every Scottish king sat to be proclaimed king, since 840 a.d . Its history goes back even further into antiquity
The stone was forcibly removed from Scone, Scotland in 1296 by the King Edward I, the English king known as “the Hammer of the Scots”, and was incorporated into the English coronation throne in 1301, where it remained until returned to Scotland on St Andrew’s Day, 30th November 1966. After 700 years, the stone is back in Scotland and proudly displayed in Edinburgh Castle.
Tickets to the Castle cost 13 British Pounds, 6.5 pounds for children and 10.5 pounds for concessionary entrance. It is possible to book online. While the Castle is in central Edinburgh it is not especially well-served by public transport. The sightseeing tour bus goes closest, but this is an expensive option. It is relatively easy to take a train to Waverley Bridge Station and walk from there, or to walk from city buses that ply Princes Street or George VI Bridge.
To read more about Edinburgh Castle, including some of its secrets, visit the official Edinburgh Castle website.
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