Day Trip! The Edinburgh Castle

First off, it's a castle on a hill, just like the kind you read about in medieval romances. Better yet, it's been around for about a *1000 years. What's not to like?

*This comes with a caveat: though the site has served as a castle for about 1000 years ago, much of the original castle structures are no longer existent , and were even razed by the Scots themselves in the 14th century. A substantial portion of the present castle has been successively rebuilt over the years or even restored, and it is thus comparatively 'new' in some respects. See how tricky these marketing ploys can be.

Secondly, practically every guidebook on Edinburgh screams it out on the list of must-see attractions. Its rugged, stoney facade frequently graces the centrefold of these guidebooks as if Frommer's 2-star rating wasn't enough of a hint.

So as you might have guessed, we needed little persuasion to visit the Edinburgh Castle on our first real weekend here. Thankfully it didn't disappoint. Royal residence, military stronghold, bloody battleground and present-day tourist attraction, the castle is chock-full of interesting features and galleries, all of which pay tribute to its long and tumultuous history.

Here were some highlights for me:

1. The view from the top




The castle-fortress rests on a rock, giving soldiers of the past a clear view of the surrounding flatlands, and any approaching enemies. Today, the castle's strategic location affords brilliant views of the city itself, which lies neatly spread-out below. Military garrisons are still stationed within the castle, but they no longer peer over the ramparts anticipating invading English armies. They've been replaced by gaping tourists, who aim and shoot with their Canon cameras.

2. The Honours of Scotland

A very long, winding exhibit which takes visitors through the history of the Honours of Scotland, before culminating with a darkened room exhibiting the Honours themselves - royal regalia of the old Scottish kings, encompassing a crown, sceptre and sword.

After the union of Scotland and England, the Honours were locked away in a musty chest, and forgotten about. They were only recovered a full century later, untouched and unmoved. Talk about finding buried treasure in your own backyard.

No photography was allowed in the galley sadly, but the Honours themselves were truly exquisite. All gleaming and shiny. Fit for a King, indeed!


3. The National War Monument



Erected in the memory of Scottish soldiers who fought and died during the 2 world wars. Later expanded to be a monument for all Scots men who perished in all post-1945 wars. Names are still being inscribed into the ledger of the dead, which is housed within the monument (actually, there are several ledgers). For that reason, no photography is allowed inside the structure out of respect to the recently fallen.

It is however, a beautiful monument fashioned like a church. Poignant phrases are etched onto the walls, and an elaborate chest containing the names of all the war dead has a place of honour in the monument. It is overlooked by some statue with the likeness of a warrior angel, which hangs rather imposingly from the ceiling, acting as some kind of silent guardian perhaps.

4. St Margaret's Chapel


The oldest structure in the castle dating back to the 12th-century, the chapel was built by King David I in memory of his mother, Queen Margaret who later became known as Saint Margaret.

It's a very quiet, small and unassuming chapel with minimal adornments apart from 5 stained glass windows (including one depicting Margaret, above) and a simple altar at the front. Though it seats only 25 people, the chapel is said to be a popular venue for weddings and baptisms in Edinburgh. I liked it simply because it offered refuge from the rain and the wind - yes, the wet weather chose to follow us all the way up the castle.

More pictures if you click on the slideshow in the right scrollbar!