Craigmillar Castle stands on a 300 feet hill on the southern side of Edinburgh.
Craigmillar Castle History
Built-in the 15th century by the Prestons, it was sold in 1660 to the Gilmours.
The L-shaped tower is the oldest part, and a curtain wall and other ranges were added in the late 15th and 16th centuries. On either side of the outer courtyard are a chapel and church.
The former dates from 1520 and contains Gilmour graves; the latter was formed in 1687 from a 16th-century block. On the south side of the castle is a dry fishpond.
Craigmillar Castle was burned in 1544 but rebuilt. Mary, Queen of Scots, was a regular visitor, and it was here the plot to kill Darnley was laid.
The Castle Today
The castle was in ruins by the 18th century when the Gilmours moved to The Inch, and proposals in 1842 to restore it as the Scottish home of Queen Victoria came to nothing. It was placed in care in 1946.
Craigmillar Castle Location
Address: Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SY, United Kingdom. Get help with directions using the map provided below: