Edinburgh Castle

Today we went to see Edinburgh Castle the world famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. This most famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret's Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War. The castle houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle atop the crag.

View from Argyle Battery to Carlton Hill

One of the guns at Argyle Battery

The Governor's House built in 1742

Foog's Gate

The National Scottish War Memorial front view

The National Scottish War Memorial back view

The Royal Palace housing the Honours (Crown Jewels)

Inside the Royal Palace

Inside the Royal Palace

Inside the Great Hall

Inside the Great Hall

Half Moon Battery

View towards Carlton Hill

Dog Cemetery where the Regiments mascots are buried since about 1100's

St Margaret's Chapel the oldest building in Edinburgh Castle from 12th century

Inside the Chapel

The castle Prison 

We then went for a walk along the Royal Mile towards Carlton Hill stopping on the way to look through St Giles Cathedral

St Giles Cathedral

Atop Carlton Hill is Dugald Stewart Monument

Nelson Monument ball drops at exactly 1 O'Clock as the cannon fires at Edinburgh Castle

Observatory built in 1818

National Monument built in 1822 "Athens of the North"

Arthur's Seat the hill we walked up yesterday

Palace of Holyroodhouse

 

Views from Carlton Hill back to Edinburgh Castle

Observatory House

Scott Monument

The statue within the monument of Sir Walter Scott