The 15 Best Castles To Visit in Edinburgh 

1. Edinburgh Castle    

Perched atop Castle Rock in the heart of the Edinburgh city centre, Edinburgh Castle stands as the crown jewel of the Scottish capital. This fortress also dominates the skyline at the top of the Royal Mile. The curated walking tour tops the list for the best Edinburgh castle tour, allowing you to explore centuries of Scottish history all in one go.  

Within this 12th-century mediaeval castle, you’ll find grand palaces where Kings like James IV once lived and a stunning Great Hall dating back to 1511.       

Art lovers will appreciate the collection of historic paintings adorning the castle walls. As you tour the grounds, you’ll uncover Scotland’s rich military history. Edinburgh Castle also offers breathtaking views of the city, making it one of the most popular castles in Edinburgh to visit.    

2. Blackness Castle    

Jutting out into the͏ Firth of ͏Forth, Bl͏ackness ͏Castle is an imposing figure͏ a͏gainst the Sco͏ttis͏h co͏astl͏ine. Once pro͏t͏e͏cted by ͏the royal burgh of L͏inlithgow and built by the powerful Crichton family in t͏he 15th century, this royal castle has served man͏y purposes o͏ver th͏e yea͏rs. 

The fortre͏s͏s transformed into an ammunition depot during the 16th century and later became a dreaded state prison. Even͏ in͏ the 20th century, ͏the ͏castle co͏ntinued͏ to p͏l͏ay a role͏ in Scot͏land’s defence. Tod͏ay, you ca͏n ex͏plore its mighty͏ walls͏, climb͏ i͏ts towers for st͏unn͏ing ͏views, and im͏agine li͏fe͏ within its stone confines across the cen͏turies.                

3. Dirleton Castle 

Nestled in the charming villa͏ge of Di͏rl͏eton in͏ ͏East Lothian, Dirle͏ton͏ Cas͏tle ent͏ice͏s visitors with its romantic ruins. This mediaeval fo͏rtress tells the story of three noble families who called it ho͏me over ͏the cen͏tur͏ies͏.͏      

A͏s ͏you wander through the crumbl͏i͏ng walls, you’ll͏ dis͏co͏ve͏r a rich h͏ist͏ory͏ sp͏annin͏g from t͏he 13͏th ͏t͏o the 17th͏ cent͏u͏ry. The castle saw its share of conflict, includin͏g͏ a period͏ of military use during ͏th͏e Wars of Scottish Independe͏nce͏.͏       

͏T͏oday,͏ Dirleto͏n͏ Cast͏le offers mor͏e than just histo͏rical intrigue. You͏ ͏can stro͏ll through ͏its bea͏ut͏i͏f͏ul͏ gardens, which boast ͏the wor͏ld’s longest ͏herbaceous border.     

4. Lauriston Castle

Lauriston Castle sits on the outskirts of Edinburgh, offering you a glimpse into 16th-century Scottish life. This tower house stands out as a hidden gem among Edinburgh’s more famous castles. Inside, you’ll find a museum filled with beautiful furniture and artwork from the Edwardian era. 

As you explore, you’ll get a glimpse into how the castle’s residents lived centuries ago. But the real treat lies outside in the castle’s grounds. Here, you can wander through an award-winning Japanese garden, which is a surprising and peaceful addition to this Scottish castle.        

5. Craigmillar Castle 

Craigmillar Castle is one of the most impressive castles around Edinburgh. Built in the late 14th century, this well-preserved ruin started as a simple century tower house. Over time, Sir Simon Preston and his descendants expanded it into a grand fortress. The castle gained fame when Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1566.  

Now, you can explore the castle’s many nooks and crannies, from its great hall to its prison. As you climb the tower, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Craigmillar Castle offers a less crowded but equally fascinating alternative to Edinburgh Castle.      

6. Dalhousie Castle  

This mighty castle claims the title of Scotland’s oldest inhabited castle, with roots dating back to the 13th century. The Ramsay family built the original structure and lived here for nearly 700 years. In the late 15th century, the castle took on much of its current form. 

When you visit, you can stay overnight in this historic fortress which now operates as a luxury hotel. As you walk through its halls, you’ll feel the enchanting weight of history around you.      

7. Crichton Castle

Crichton Castle sits above the River Tyne in Midlothian, offering you mediaeval and Renaissance architecture. The castle began as one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses in the late 14th century. Over time, it grew into an impressive noble residence. The Crichton family built the original tower, but later owners transformed it into a grand palace. 

When you explore, you’ll notice the castle’s most striking feature: its Italian-inspired facade. This unusual diamond-patterned stonework sets Crichton Castle apart from other Scottish fortresses. Inside the castle, you can wander through the great hall and see the remains of the castle’s once-lavish rooms.   

8. Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle is one of Scotland’s most dramatic coastal fortresses. Perched on a cliff edge near North Berwick, it offers breathtaking views of the North Sea. The powerful Red Douglas dynasty built this castle in the mid-14th century and called it home for over 300 years. 

As you approach Tantallon Castle, you’ll see the massive curtain wall that once protected the Douglas family from their enemies. Inside, you can climb the towers for stunning sea views or explore the ruins of the great hall. The castle faced several sieges throughout its history, including attacks by King James IV and Oliver Cromwell.                       

9. Melville Castle 

Melville Castle welcomes you with its elegant Georgian architecture and abundant history. Over the years, this castle has transformed from a noble residence to a luxury hotel. As you step inside, the castle’s interior impresses with its grand staircase and ornate plasterwork. 

One of the highlights of your visit will be exploring the beautifully restored rooms, each telling a story of the castle’s past. The castle grounds offer another treat, with woodland walks and manicured gardens to enjoy. For a memorable experience, you can stay overnight in one of the castle’s period-style bedrooms.        

10. Rosslyn Castle 

Rosslyn Castle sits near the famous Rosslyn Chapel, known for its role in the film “The Da Vinci Code.” While the chapel often steals the spotlight, the castle offers its own fascinating history. Built by the St. Clair family in the 14th century, Rosslyn Castle perches dramatically on a wooded hill. You can reach it by crossing a narrow bridge over a deep gorge.  

Inside, you’ll find the remains of a once-grand home, including a great hall and a kitchen with one of Scotland’s oldest ovens. Though not used as a filming location for the movie, the castle adds to the area’s mysterious atmosphere. You can even rent part of the castle for a special holiday stay.  

11. Midhope Castle

Better known to many as Lallybroch from the popular Outlander series, Midhope Castle is a picturesque 16th-century tower house. Located on the Hopetoun Estate, it’s one of the best Edinburgh castles to visit for history buffs.  

From the outside, Midhope Castle impresses with its well-preserved stone walls and tower. However, the castle’s interiors remain off-limits due to their ruined state. Despite this, you can still walk around the exterior and imagine life in this Scottish laird’s house centuries ago. The surrounding countryside also offers beautiful views and walking trails.    

12. Borthwick Castle

Borthwick Castle stands out as one of Scotland’s best-preserved mediaeval fortresses. Built in 1430, this castle boasts impressive towers that rise over 100 feet high. The castle played host to many notable figures, including Mary Queen of Scots and King James VI. As you explore, you’ll see why Borthwick was considered one of the strongest castles in Scotland. 

Its thick stone walls and strategic location offered excellent protection. Inside, you can explore the great hall, still adorned with original features. The castle now serves as a luxury hotel, allowing guests to sleep where Scottish royalty once rested. From the top of the towers, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Scottish countryside.      

13. Fa’side Castle 

Fa’side Castle, while lesser-known, ranks among the best castles in Edinburgh to visit. This 15th-century tower house sits just outside the city, offering a quieter, more intimate castle experience. As you draw near, you’ll see its sturdy stone walls rising from the East Lothian countryside. 

The castle’s history spans centuries, from its time as a noble residence to its use as a farmhouse. Today, it operates as a unique bed and breakfast, and you can climb to the roof for stunning views of the Forth estuary and the surrounding landscape.  

You’ll also find a mix of mediaeval architecture and modern comforts within the castle. The great hall, with its vaulted ceiling, transports you back in time. Fa’side Castle gives you a chance to not just see history but to experience it for a night.      

14. Craigcrook Castle  

Craigcrook͏ Cast͏le sits ͏quietly͏ in͏ the outs͏kirts o͏f Edinburgh, ͏offer͏ing history and literary fame.͏ Built ͏in the 16th century, the cast͏le ͏g͏ain͏ed ͏popul͏arity in the 19th Century as a ga͏thering place͏ for writers͏ and ͏a͏rtis͏t͏s.͏ Famo͏us autho͏r͏s like Charles Dickens visite͏d here, adding to it͏s cultura͏l significan͏ce.     

The castle’s tower and crow-steppe͏d ga͏bles give it a distinct͏ly Sc͏otti͏sh appearance. Inside, y͏ou’ll͏ find room͏s͏ tha͏t͏ have ͏hosted ͏intellectual discuss͏ions and creative ͏debates for centur͏ies. The castle’s ͏gardens, des͏igned in the 1800s, provide a ͏pea͏ceful ͏setting for a͏ s͏troll.͏ This castle also serves ͏as͏ a͏ venue f͏or events and͏ wedding͏s͏.      

15. Carlowrie Castle

Carlowrie Castle sits just outside Edinburgh, showing off its Scottish Baronial style. Built in 1852, it’s newer than many Scottish castles. When you get close, you’ll see tall turrets and stepped gables above neat gardens. The Hutchison family once lived here, including Isobel Wylie Hutchison, a famous traveller.  

Now, people use the castle for weddings, business meetings, and lavish holidays. The castle has spacious bedrooms, each with its own charming design. Outside, you can walk through 32 acres of grounds with woods and pretty gardens.   

While it’s not as old as mediaeval castles, Carlowrie lets you feel like a 19th-century Scottish noble. It’s close to Edinburgh, so you can easily add it to your castle visits in the area.  

Bright Bus Tours is your perfect companion to explore these 15 stunning castles. Book your tour tickets now for the brightest and most convenient adventure.      

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