Craigmillar Castle
In 1566, a secret pact was signed here to murder Mary Queen of Scots' husband — she may not have known a thing about it.
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One of Scotland's best-preserved medieval castles, three miles south-east of Edinburgh city centre. Mary arrived on 20 November 1566 to convalesce after the birth of the future James VI; the "Craigmillar Bond" plotting Lord Darnley's death was sealed before she left on 7 December. The Preston family built the tower house from the late 14th century, with 15th-century courtyard walls drawn from French design after Sir William Preston's travels on the continent.
What to look for
- The 15th-century courtyard wall, noted for "particularly fine" defensive features and continental French influence
- A doocot (dovecote) set into the outer courtyard wall
- The chapel enclosed within the outer courtyard
Open to the public and managed by Historic Environment Scotland; 3 miles (4.8 km) south-east of Edinburgh city centre on a low hill south of the Craigmillar suburb.
Craigmillar Castle is one of 28 sights worth the detour in Edinburgh, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Edinburgh pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh CastleAttacked 26 times over 1,100 years — research calls it the most besieged place in Great Britain.
- Holyrood PalaceScotland's working royal residence since the 1500s — the actual rooms where Mary, Queen of Scots lived are open to walk through.
- The National (Scottish National Gallery)Since 1912, two near-identical neoclassical buildings have stood side by side on The Mound — visitors have been walking into the wrong one ever since.
- National Museum of ScotlandDolly the sheep, one of Elton John's extravagant suits, and a Victorian cast-iron hall — all under one free roof on Chambers Street.
- Murrayfield StadiumScotland's largest stadium opened in 1925 with a Grand Slam win — 70,000 people watched it happen.
- St Giles' CathedralA prayer book read here in 1637 caused a riot that sparked a rebellion pulling three kingdoms into war.