Awesome place, didnt go in but walked around. Recommend making note of weather and last couple days as i could get muddy/boggy. We went around sunset and got soooo lucky with impressive shots of the castle. 25 min bus from edinburgh centre and few to no tourists crowding around. Highlight of edinburgh.
No idea why this castle is not more popular, but use it to your advantage. It's a lovely 15th century castle whose 16th century tower is still standing. You can visit the great hall, cellars, the prison cell, walk across the top of the inner fortification wall, all that with your dog! One of the most dog friendly places, there are nice dog walks all around the castle grounds too - get nice views of the castle for free that way.
Stunning castle ruins. One of the best castles I've been to across the world, mostly because not much has been touched since it fell in ruin and none of the areas are blocked off or renovated. Don't expect anything special here, and honestly if you're in Edinburgh for a day or two there are plenty better places to see, but if you have the time it is definitely worth going for the ambiance of the place.
If you want a hide castle away from the crowds this is the castle for you. Way cheaper place still all the history facts that come along with touring a castle from pre medieval times. Only complaint I would have is parking is very limited. The few up front parking spots are reserved for tour company’s. You’ll find parking along the street after you pass the entrance to the castle and make your first left on a street nexts to some homes. From there it’s an easy walk back up to the gates.
I visited the castle on a sunny morning, and it was an absolutely beautiful experience. I got a tip from a local dog walker to approach the castle through the meadows behind it, as it offers the best scenery, and that was so true. The castle itself offered some truly great views from its towers and wall walks. I spent a good couple of hours exploring the halls, chambers, vaults, and spiral staircases of the castle, despite it not being a huge one. But it’s quite well preserved in its ruined state, and in fact that’s the charm of it; it is fairly intact. There was an older gentleman playing the bagpipes in the main hall and a highly knowledgeable enthusiast in full knight's gear preparing for some upcoming medieval re-enactment in the cellar below. Some parts are closed to visitors due to safety issues, but there’s still plenty of accessible areas for one to wander and absorb the history.
Craigmillar Castle has a nice scenic view of Edinburgh and the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Some areas were closed to pending repairs but was still enjoyable. Also dog friendly as well as you can see my pooch loved it. Recommend when visiting.
What a wonderful castle! Easy to reach by city bypass and not far from the city centre. Small car park just upfront the main entrance. Very quiet and easy walking natural park all around the castle. The site is very well maintained. To entry into the castle there's a ticket to pay of 7 pounds. It's easy to visit inside, not suitable for disabled people unfortunately. Toilets available inside. Lot of ancient,secret and tiny rooms and tight stairs but the landscape view from the top of the walls is fantastic. The visit of the whole castle takes 20/ 30 minutes. If you like medieval buildings this place deserves a visit.
This was a bit of an unexpected experience. You pay for admittance, but then you're just free to explore. It's really fun to crawl through the bones of the castle, and read the sparse information they've posted around the various rooms. Bonus: you can sit in the same spot that Mary Queen of Scots once sat. It's her throne, but perhaps not the throne you're imagining. Have fun!
We went for an Easter egg hunt. It was my first time at the castle and I'm very impressed. Its really well looked after and has lots of nooks and crannies, staircases, turrets, and other castley stuff. Great views of Edinburgh from the roof!
Craigmillar Castle is located at Craigmillar Castle Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4SY, UK
You can contact Craigmillar Castle at +44 131 661 4445
You can find directions to Craigmillar Castle by following this map link