Craigmillar Castle

Located about three miles south of Edinburgh, Craigmillar is Edinburgh’s second castle. The castle is relatively unknown to tourists, perhaps because it is in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s most visited historical monument. However, it’s really worth the short trip to the suburbs to learn about the history here.

Craigmillar has played a part in many parts of Scottish History including the Craigmillar Bond or ‘plot’, the rough Wooing when England tried to disrupt the auld alliance with France by forcing Mary to marry Edward Prince of Wales and when Mary’s infant son James V of Scotland escaped nearby Edinburgh during an outbreak of the bubonic plague during the mid 16th century.

It was mostly a leisure venue for the Royals, and Mary Stewart enjoyed hunting at Craigmillar. Although Craigmillar is close to Edinburgh, no dungeon or jail has been built despite its cellars being a good fit.

Over the centuries, the castle has been added, altered, and repurposed, so it has a lot of rooms and spiral staircases. It started in the 15th century and was heavily remodelled in the 17th century by the Preston family. It was abandoned by 1780 after the family moved into Inch house nearby. Part of the estate is now built-on, partly a golf club, and part Craigmillar Castle park.

The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Hospital is located in the area, which had been referred to as ‘Little France’ because of the French troops that lived here when Mary returned from France as a result of her childhood husband, the Dauphin of France, dying from an infection.

In recent years, Craigmillar has been the location for productions like Outlander and Outlaw King. The mighty Yew tree that stands inside the main castle door was present in Mary Queen of Scots’ time.

Craigmillar Castle offers a fantastic view of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, and the Pentland Hills from the ramparts. On good days, you can see the Forth bridges to the west and North Berwick Law some 20 miles to the east.