Edinburgh Castle

After so many hours in the train I basically took Sunday as a rest day.  A friend took me to the wee town of Balhama for lunch on Loch Lomand.  Remember that it is so large that although I can nearly see it from my hotel, it was a lengthy drive to get there.

So refreshed, I hoped on the train Monday to see the Castle.  I’ve been to Edinburgh 3 times previously but have never gone inside this ancient wonder. The oldest structure is St. Margret’s chapel (which for some reason I can’t find a photo of) over 900 years old.  The original castle was hundreds of years older but all that was razed over the centuries.

By the time I was done I was surprised that over 3 hours had past.  It was a very nice day.

You can look up the history or take the tour but it was strategic in the Middle ages as with Stirling Castle, it blocked the path to the rest of Scotland.  Built on a volcanic plug it has existed in some form for 3000 years.

The entrance.  This open area will soon be filled with the viewing stands for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo held in August.  I was able to get this shot without the cranes installing the stands.

The lower part of the 4 gated entrance is hundreds of years old.  The clearly defined upper  was added in the early 1800’s when Victorian Britain realized the value of tourist attractions.  By this time the castle had not been used as a military garrison for some times and all the cannon seen were installed prior to a visit from Queen Victoria who, when told there were none was, Not Amused!  A castle must have cannon.  None were ever fired and most are naval cannon.

 

More of the inside of the Castle

The great Hall dates from the early 1500’s and was sacked by Oliver Cromwell who removed everything but the hammer beam roof, one of two surviving to the present in Britain

And the colors here were from Waterloo and will soon go into permanent storage for protection

The National War Memorial houses the names of all Scots and those serving in Scottish regiments who died in the Great War which unfortunately was renamed WWI.

No photos inside.

One of many over the years it is fired precisely at 1 o’clock so that people could set their watches which back in the day had to be done daily as their accuracy was not so great.  Accurate time being of utmost importance to sailors departing Leith wharfs.

The Royal Scots Regimental Museum use many historical artifacts and tells the history of this old, proud unit.

And finally Mons Meg.  Gift from France to James II in 1454 this monster and, at 15′ long 15,366 pounds with a 20 inch barrel that could fire a 175 kg/385# shell made of stone over 2 miles, it was a monster. It was used to destroy castles held by impudent lords.  The barrel burst during a ceremonial firing in 1680 and was saved from being melted as there was no place big enough to do so.