Edinburgh History and Edinburgh Castle begins on the rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands.The rock was formed 70 million years ago.
Edinburgh Castle Tourist Information
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Open all year 7 days a week.
1 April to 31 October 9.30am – 6.00pm Last admission 5.15pm
1 November to 31 March 9.30am-5.00pm
Last admission 4.15pm Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day. |
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Edinburgh Castle is an ancient fortress which, from its position atop
Castle Rock, dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, and is Scotland’s second most visited tourist attraction
It occupies the summit of an ancient plug of volcanic rock towering 260ft or 80m above the city it dominates, and is visible for tens of miles in every direction.
Edinburgh Castle started to develop into a royal fortress during the reign of David I from 1124 to 1153. Edward I of England took the castle after a three day siege in 1296. The Scots retook it in 1314 by scaling the rock at night, but the English were back in possession by 1335, only to lose it once more to the Scots by stealth in April 1341.
In 1715 the Jacobites very nearly captured Edinburgh Castle by scaling the rock, as Robert the Bruce’s men had done 401 years earlier
Edinburgh Castle remains a military base today. Direct administration of the castle by the Ministry of Defence only came to an end in 1915 when the army moved to the city’s Redford Barracks. Nevertheless, the Castle continues to have a strong connection with the Army. Sentries still stand watch at the castle gatehouse between 6pm and 9am.As early as 1818 the potential of Edinburgh Castle as a visitor attraction
The Castle is now run and administered, for the most part, by Historic Scotland. Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government
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