Scottish Castles

Edinburgh Castle

Scotland’s most visited tourist attraction

Edinburgh CastleO Edinburgh Castle is built upon Castle Rock

which is an extinct volcanoO The castle is 80 metres higher than the

land in the North, West and South of the city so many tourists go here to see views over the city

O The first building within the castle was built in the 12th century – St Margaret’s chapel

O St Margaret was an English princess who married King Malcolm III and became Queen Margaret of Scotland

O Her son, King David, built the chapel after her death

O During the Scottish Wars of Independence (13th - 14th centuries) the ownership of the Castle was changed between Scotland and England many times

O Many members of Scottish royalty have lived here including Queen Margaret (later became St Margaret) who died in the castle in 1093 and Mary Queen of Scots who had her son James VI in 1566 in the castle

Left: St Margaret

Right: Mary Queen of Scots

Stone of DestinyO The Stone of Destiny caused 700 years of

fighting between Scotland and EnglandO It is used for the coronations of monarchs

and was last used for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, our current queen, in 1953

O On St Andrew’s Day (30th November) 1996 it was returned to Scotland from England and is now in Edinburgh Castle next to the Crown Jewels

Honours of ScotlandO The Crown Jewels are also called the

Honours of Scotland and are the oldest symbols of royalty in the British Isles

O They consist of a crown with many jewels, a sceptre and a sword.

O The sceptre is silver with manysymbols of the church on itincluding Mary, Jesus andSt Andrew holding a Saltire Flag

Balmoral CastleO Built in 1390 and is now part of

Balmoral EstateO Bought is 1852 by Queen Victoria

and Prince AlbertO Queen Elizabeth II and her family

spend their summer holidays in buildings next to this castle

Stirling Castle

Stirling CastleO Stirling Castle was built upon a

massive hill in the 12th century and has steep cliffs on 3 sides of it

O Many wars have been fought against English soldiers in or near the castle such as the Battle of Bannockburn, Battle ofStirling Bridge and the Wars ofIndependence

O Many Kings and Queens livedhere such as Mary, Queen of Scots,King Henry and King James

Dunvegan CastleO Dunvegan Castle is on the Isle of

SkyeO It is the oldest castle in Scotland to

have people living in it continuously – since 1270

O The chiefs of the Clan MacLeodlive there

Glamis CastleO Glamis Castle is in Angus, ScotlandO It was the home of The Queen

Mother and Princess Margaretwas born there

O It was used as a military hospitalin World War I

Eilean Donan CastleO Built in 1343 on an island but connected

to the mainland by a bridgeO The castle has been shown in many films

such as Made of Honor and The World is Not Enough

Newark CastleO Built in 1478 in Port Glasgow, ScotlandO A man called Patrick Maxwell lived

there for many years and was a friend of King James VI of Scotland

O There is said to be a ghostin the castle which can beseen in some photos

O This is a very popular placefor wedding photosbecause there is great views of the River Clyde behind the castle

Skelmorlie CastleO Built in a village called Skelmorlie in

Ayrshire in 1502O Has more than 20 bedrooms, 10

bathrooms and 9 kitchensO The ghost of Lady

Margaret Douglas isin the castle

O It was sold in 2009 for£2.5million