Edinburgh Castle is perched atop volcanic rock that was formed millions of years ago. This beautiful piece of architecture is in the perfect defensive position, and it has an interesting history of siege. It was the attraction we wanted to see in Scotland, so we were excited to make the steep climb up Princes Street and to the front gate on Castle Hill.
How much did it cost? Entrance into the castle was less than 10 pounds a person. An audioguide was available for an extra fee. It was well worth the money!
What was using the audioguide like? Throughout the castle small numbers are on display beside certain significant features. We punched these into our audioguides and heard wonderfully detailed narratives that added to our experience.
For example, outside of a tiny chapel dedicated to Saint Margaret, we learned how this eleventh century queen loved her husband so much that she died of a broken heart shortly after he fell on the field of battle.
Finding tales of war far more interesting than tales of love and woe, my son stared from dizzy heights across the battlements as he listened to a dramatic recounting of the "long siege" in which the supporters of Mary Queen of Scots were forced to surrender after a two-year-long hold out.
We couldn't listen to every story, however, because there were several museums to explore as well as the crown jewels to see!
What highlights are worth a mention? I liked standing in the tiny room where Elizabeth Tudor's cousin Mary Stewart gave birth in the 1500s to the boy who would eventually be the first king of Scotland AND England. American visitors will find it interesting to learn that some American sailors were held prisoner in the castle as evidenced by the carvings of a young nation's flag still preserved in a prison cell's wooden door. There is also a solemn memorial chapel to visit that honors all the men from Scotland who have fought to defend her.
Is there food here? There is a small cafe in which we got coffee and snacks. The warm drinks were especially nice because the weather is so brisk in December.
How much time should be alotted? We spent the better part of a day happily exploring the castle, but I would say you'd need at least a half-day to do the attraction justice, even if you went at a faster pace.
What ages does this attraction appeal to? This will be a hit with everyone in the family. Our son liked is as much as we did. With that said, I'm not sure how friendly it would be to people who have a hard time walking. Some of the fun is going up the narrow staircases and exploring. I may be wrong, but I didn't see a lot of handicap access.
Bottom line? A must see.