Edinburgh Castle Complete Tourist Guide & Map

Edinburgh Castle Page Contents

1 Edinburgh Castle Introduction

Edinburgh Castle from from National Museum Scotland Roof

Edinburgh Castle has had a commanding view over the city since 1085. It is located on a domineering position high above the City of Edinburgh on an extinct volcano core.

The Castle itself, like many of Edinburgh's landmarks, has a chilling past. Its hilltop position made it an ideal location for a prison, for many centuries illustrious men endured imprisonment, torture, and the maiden (the Scottish version of the guillotine) on the castle grounds. Today, the Castle is the most visited of all Scottish Monuments, and many tourists comment on its unique mixture of beauty and foreboding. First opened to the public in 1819

In front of the castle is the Castle Esplanade with an unrivalled view of the cobblestoned streets of the Old Town, and the bustling activity of the city's financial sector, the New Town. The Esplanade is the location of the annual Edinburgh Tattoo that draws tourists from all over the world.

Edinburgh Castle Complete Tourist Guide Walkthrough

This website website will conduct this visit to Edinburgh castle has the best walk through tour to visit all the many attractions within the castle

1 Edinburgh Castle Esplanade Esplanade

Edinburgh Castle Entrance & Esplanade

Edinburgh Tattoo on the Esplanade

1a The Spur Outer Defence

The spur was an outer work V shaped Bastion defensive position, built on the outer side of the ditch on the current location of the Esplanade and covering about 80% of the Esplanade area. Possible remains are the left wall No other remains are visible, but remains were found 2-3 metres underground when workmen were digging for foundations for the Tattoo seating structures. The old pictures showing the Spur give you an indication of what it looked like.

2. Service Entrance & Tunnel

This entrance is closed to the public. What is interesting is that the tunnel runs under the castle to the far end, to a private area behind the Redcoat Cafe. Contrary to rumours it is the only tunnel found in the Castle.

3. Ditch

The ditch is Dry wide & Deep

Its purpose: Heightens the Wall. Makes it difficult for attackers, siege towers, battering rams to get near to the wall or gate.

Main Gatehouse

The Main Castle Gatehouse Entrance was built by the Victorians to replace the older one simply to make the castle look more imposing, this would increase the blossoming tourist visits. Bronze statues of King Robert the Bruce and William Wallace stand guard on either side of the entrance.

The only public way into & exit from the Castle

5. Outer Bailey (Outer Ward)

The first of the 3 Baileys, open areas. All 3 have irregular shapes

Interactive 360⁰ Photograph of part of The Outer Bailey

Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom

6. Toilets

Once inside the gateway turn left for the Toilets. Straight ahead, ie. opposite the gate, for the information office. Turn right & bear right for the ticket office. Or if you already have tickets - turn right & bear left to proceed to the ticket check point just before the next gate.

7.Pre-Paid Tickets Information Office

8. Ticket Office

Expect a long queue, or Buy in advance online or even better Book a Guided Tour

8. Lang Stairs(Bottom)

Originally these steps were the only way into the castle

The Short Way to the Main Attractions of the Castle and the way we will go.

If you want to avoid the 90 steps you can continue straight forward along the road which rises at a more gentler pace. This road was built to make it easier to install lots of cannon.

Argyle Tower

Fight for the Castle

This is an intriguing exhibition. Located inside the Argyle Tower with it's entrance half way up the Lang Stairs.

Lang Stairs Top

When you exit the stairs, walkraround the wall to your right and look through the 3 cannon embrasure to see how they dominate this stair entrance to the castle

Interactive 360⁰ Photograph of the entrance/exit of the top of the Lang Stairs. Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom

When you exit the stairs, walk around the wall to your left, where the car is parked in the above photo, and look through the 3 cannon embrasure to see how they dominate this stair entrance to the castle

Upper Bailey (Upper Ward)

20. Mons Meg

Mons Meg

22. St Margaret's Chapel

St Margaret's Chapel

23. Forewall Battery

Forewall Battery

Fore Well

Half Moon Battery

David's Tower Corner of remains

The low wall at the rear of the Half Moon Battery indicate the rear wall & corner of the remains of St. David's Tower, which is buried beneath the Battery

Toilets

located behind the low wall at the rear of the Half Moon Battery, down the slope , entrance down the steps on the left. The Toilets are actually in the buried remains of the St David's Tower.

Crown Square

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace and the Honours of Scotland the TOP Attractions not only s in Edinburgh Castle but possibly Scotland. They are usually via separate entrances only a couple of metres apart. Expect quakes as busy times.

Honours of Scotland

Honours of Scotland are the name for The Crown Jewels which are the Oldest in the British Isles, older than the English Crown Jewels in the Tower Of London

Great Hall

Tea Rooms

Rear of Scottish National War Memorial

The Scottish National War Memorial is the Castles #2 Attraction. Expect queues at bust times

Telescope. View Map

Cemetery for Solders Dogs

Cemetery for Solders Dogs

"Round Water Tank

Square Water Tank

Was Edinburgh Castle Impregnable?

When you visit Edinburgh Castle , or view photographs or videos, you can see what a fantastic defensive location it is built on. . The weakest side was the route you take the to enter the castle. This side was where the most defences were built.

The outer defences extenended over most of the Espalanade, and were destroyed or coverered in earth when the esplanade was leveled to become a parade ground.

Security and bag restrictions

For reasons of ease of movement, visitor safety and general security, suitcases and large rucksacks (30L or over) are not permitted in the castle.

We are unable to store luggage, prams, pushchairs or other personal items for visitors.

We may carry out bag searches at the castle entrance as part of our security screening process.

Dogs

Only assistance dogs are permitted, and must be kept on a lead at all times

Must not left unattended at any time in the castle or vehicles.

Owners must pick up after dogs.

Edinburgh Castle All Attractions. Best Route Map