LOTHIAN |
| Cairnpapple Hill |
Off B792, 3 miles north of Bathgate |
On the summit of this hill Stone Age man erected an
oval ring of upright stones. Later, during the Bronze and Iron Ages Cairnpapple hill
became a burial ground and the standing stones were used to build tombs. One of the burial
mounds has been restored so that visitors can enter the burial chamber. Excavations of the
site have uncovered a food vessel, funeral urn and fragments of stone axes. |
| Craigmillar Castle |
2.5 miles South of Edinburgh, east of A68 |
Built around an L-plan tower house of the
early 15th century, Craigmillar was much expanded in the 15th and 16th
centuries. It is a handsome ruin, including a range of private rooms
linked to the hall of the old tower. |
| Crichton Castle |
Off B6367, 5 miles south-east of Dalkeith |
The ruins of this castle stand on a plateau overlooking
Tyne Water. In the 15th century the castles belonged to the Lord Chancellor of Scotland,
Sir William Crichton. In 1440 the castle came under siege and shortly afterwards the
chancellor remodelled the castle to make it less vulnerable. In the 16th century the
castle was owned by the 4th Earl of Bothwell and later that century an Italian architect
created an unusual inner courtyard that resembles an Italian piazza. |
| Dalmeny House |
Off B924, 7 miles west of Edinburgh |
Although the estate belonged to the Earls of Rosebery
since the 17th century, the present mansion dates from 1817 when the family moved from
Barnbougle Castle, half a mile to the west. The house has a flamboyant Gothic facade - but
the interior is even more impressive. Amongst the treasures are a set of Goya tapestries,
some fine French furniture, a collection of porcelain and a splendid collection of
paintings. |
| Dirleton Castle |
In Dirleton, 2 miles west of North Berwick |
Now a ruin this 13th century castle was built on an
outcrop of solid rock. The castle was first battered by England’s Edward I before
being recaptured by Robert Bruce and much later wrecked by Cromwell. The main features of
the castle are three 13th century drum towers, the chapel, kitchen and the ruins of the
great hall. The attractive gardens contain a 17th century bowling green. |
| Edinburgh Castle |
Centre of Edinburgh |
This most famous of castles dominates Edinburgh and
gives stunning views of the city and countryside. Edinburgh's oldest building, the early
12th century St Margaret's Chapel, is here, as well as the enormous 500 year-old siege
cannon, Mons Meg, James IV's Great Hall and the Scottish National War Memorial, opened in
1927. Edinburgh Castle is also the home to Scotland's Crown Jewels which are among the
oldest in Europe. |
| The Georgian House |
Centre of Edinburgh |
Edinburgh’s ‘New Town’ grew up when
citizens no longer needed to be near the castle for protection. Robert Adam designed
Charlotte Square, built between 1793 and 1805. The lower rooms of No. 7 are furnished as
they might have been then. An audio-visual show tells the story of the New Town. |
| Gladstone’s Land |
Centre of Edinburgh |
A 17th century cloth-merchant’s booth has been
constructed on the ground floor of the 16th to 17th century house, originally the home of
Thomas Gledstanes. The house has been restored and refurbished in period style. The
painted Chamber has a beautifully decorated ceiling. |
| Hailes Castle |
Off A1, 2 miles south-west of East Linton |
Hailes Castle was built in the 13th century and was
enlarged two hundred years later. In the 16th century the castle was owned by James, 4th
Earl of Bothwell who married Mary queen of Scots. Surviving parts of the original building
include the base of the tower, the lower part of the curtain wall and a vaulted stairway
to a well. |
| Hopetoun House |
Off A904, 2.5 miles west of Queensferry |
Built by the Scottish architect Sir William Adam, for
the 1st Earl of Hopetoun in 1699, the house was enlarged by William Adam in the 18th
century. Several of the rooms have silk wall coverings, magnificent ceilings and paintings
by the masters Canaletto and Gainsborough. Two unusual features of the house are the
strongroom with heave iron doors and shutters and the serving room where food was warmed
after travelling to the State Dining Room from the kitchen by a steam-heated railway and a
lift. |
| The House of the Binns |
Off A904, 4 miles west of Queensferry |
A country mansion with turrets and elegant dormer
windows, the House of Binns owes its name to the two hills, or Binns, on which it stands.
The house was originally built between 1612 and 1630, being enlarged over the next 200
years. The elaborate ceilings in the High Hall and King's Room date from 1630. Many of the
rooms contain handsome Scottish furniture and fine Chinese and European porcelain. |
| Huntly House Museum |
Centre of Edinburgh |
Edinburgh glass is on display at Huntly House includes
a superb cut-glass epergne made at the Holyrood Glass Works to commemorate Queen
Victoria’s accession in 1837. The restored 16th century mansion has displays on local
history and relics of Field-Marshal Earl Haig who commanded British forces in the First
World War. Edinburgh silver, Scottish pottery, long-case clocks and quaint old shop signs
are also on view. |
| Lauriston Castle |
Cramond Road South, on north-west edge of Edinburgh |
The last private owners of this home, William Reid,
left their home to the nation when they died more than 70 years ago on the condition that
it should be preserved unchanged. William Reid was a collector of furniture and the rooms
are filled with the furniture and objects d'art collected by him. Lauriston consists of a
16th century castle incorporated into a roomier neo-jacobean mansion built in 1827. |
| Lennoxlove |
Off B6369, 1 mile south of Haddington |
This handsome house was named after Fances Stewart,
Duchess of Lennox, who in the 17th century was the model for the figure of Britannia used
on Britain's coinage. Since 1946 the house has belonged to the Dukes of Hamilton, and is
rich in treasures and historical relics brought from Hamilton Palace. The Ante Room is
dedicated to Mary, Queen of Scots, and contains her death mask. The 20th Century Room
contains a map and compass carried by Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, who flew to
Lanarkshire in an attempt to involve the Duke in negotiating peace between England and
Germany. |
| Linlithgow Palace |
Off High Street, in Linlithgow |
One of Scotland's four royal palaces, Linlithgow was
built in the 15th century for James I of Scotland. In 1746 the building was gutted by fire
and with subsequent neglect the roof and interiors were destroyed. The shell of the
building remains largely intact, surrounding a large inner courtyard. The Great Hall, the
Chapel and the Presence Chamber can still be seen and a climb up the Queen's turnpike
tower leads to a small apartment with views of the Grampians. |
| National Gallery of Scotland |
Centre of Edinburgh |
The neo-classical building houses a fine collection of
European paintings dating from the 14th century. The gallery also contains an unrivalled
group of works by Scottish artists. |
| Museum of Flight |
Off B1347, 4 miles south of North Berwick |
Fortune Airfield is the home of this museum who's most
famous aircraft was the airship R34, which made the first non-stop double crossing of the
Atlantic from East Fortune in 1919. The museum also has many other famous models which can
be seen including Percy Pilcher's Hawk Glider to a giant Vulcan delta-wing bomber. |
| Palace of Holyroodhouse |
Centre of Edinburgh |
The Queen’s official residence in Scotland was
begun in 1498 by James IV, and rebuilt by order of Charles II. Mary, Queen of Scots spent
six years of her reign there. The picture gallery contains portraits depicting 89 Scottish
kings of history and legend, and fine tapestries and 18th century furniture grace the
state apartments. |
| Tantallon Castle |
Off A198, 3 miles east of North Berwick |
Built in the 14th century the castle provided the 'Red'
Douglases with a strong base from which they pursued bitter feuds against the 'black'
Doudlases, and sometimes against the crown. In 1528 James V managed to storm Tantallon
after a three-week siege and in 1651 General Monck captured it after 12 days' artillery
bombardment. Substantial parts of the towers and hall block are still standing and
visitors can climb the battlements. |
