Standing upon the basalt core of an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is an assemblage of buildings dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries, reflecting its changing role as fortress, royal palace, military garrison and state prison. Though there is evidence of Bronze Age occupation of the site, the original fortress was built by the 6th-century Northumbrian King Edwin, from whom the city takes its name.

The castle was a favourite royal residence until the Union of Crowns in 1603, after which the king resided in England. After the Union of Parliaments in 1707, the Scottish regalia were walled up in the Palace for over a hundred years. The castle is now the zealous possessor of the so-called Stone of Destiny, a relic of ancient Scottish kings, which was seized by the English and not returned until 1996.

The Governor’s House in complete with Flemish-style gables, this building was constructed for the governor in 1742 and now serves as the Officers’ Mess for the castle garrison.

The Scottish Crown is now on display in the palace; the crown was restyled by James V Scotland in 1540.

The Argyle Battery is a fortified wall that commands a spectacular northern view of the city’s New Town.

Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in this 15th-century palace, where the Scottish regalia are on display.

The Esplanade is the location of the Military Tattoo.

The Half Moon Battery was built in the 1570’s as a platform for the artillery defending the northeastern wing of he castle.

David I built St. Margaret’s Chapel in the early 12th century. The chapel is the castle’s oldest building.

There’s a saying that goes "If you haven’t been to Edinburgh Castle, you have never been to Edinburgh". That is absolutely true. A visit to the Edinburgh Castle is a must once you reach Edinburgh, as that’s the major attraction.

There are various ways to go to the castle. You can either walk there direct or board any of the "Edinburgh Tours" buses. I purchased the Mac Tours pass for only £8.50. It is valid for 24 hours from the date of purchase. With that pass, I could hop on the bus anytime and visit other attractions. I was also entitled to a 10% discount on the entrance to the Edinburgh Castle, 10% off on any of the Hard Rock Café merchandise and lots more.

The tour starts at Waverly Bridge and it takes about 10 minutes to reach the castle. There’s a tour guide on board who will brief visitors on various historical buildings and monuments along the way. I alighted at the third stop and headed to the entrance of the castle. The queue is quite long and it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to reach the ticket booth. The entrance fee to the Edinburgh Castle is £9.50 but with my Mac Tours pass, I paid less than that. Before I entered the castle, there was a guy dressed up like Mel Gibson in Braveheart, and tourists took pictures with him. I managed to take a picture with him too. Then, my journey begins…

Once I enter the castle, I feel like I am in the medieval times. I feel like the queen of the castle. The city of Edinburgh is in my hand because I can see the whole city. I always thought that all castles are the same. They are huge and old but Edinburgh castle is simply beyond words. The castle is stupendous. It may take one a whole day to cover each and every room and read every bit of the history behind this massive castle. The interesting part is, Mary, the Queen of Scot, was crowned here when she was only six months old. That is shockingly amazing.

My favourite room is The Crown Room where the Royal crown and jewellery were displayed. I love the Ruby Ring. I bet it looks nice on me. Just kidding! There are lots of other rooms such as the Prisoner of War and the Military Prison.

After touring the magnificent castle, I thought of dressing up in Scottish costumes and having my photo taken, but it was fully booked. Well, I still had fun. Anyway I managed to take lots of photos in the castle so that was ok. As I need to visit other attractions, I have to say goodbye to Edinburgh castle. I managed to take one last photo at the entrance of the castle and then leave feeling pleased, contented, and delighted.

Edinburgh Castle plays a prominent role in Scotland's history. Even if you're not a military buff (I'm not), you can find something of interest.

To tour the entire castle, give yourself an entire morning or afternoon at least. Free tours are offered daily and provide a good overview of the castle. I would recommend also renting the audio tours. This will give you even more in-depth information on the castle's history.

Good walking shoes are a must. You have to climb up to the entrance and, once in the castle, the terrain is uneven.

Edinburgh Castle is not for the weary. The Castle sits on a hill and requires no small amount of walking or climbing, but is worth every step. The castle is worth every pence of the admission fee, which isn't expensive. The castle is awe-inspiring - there is simply no other way to explain it. Every fantasy every little girl has ever had about what castles looked like will be realized here. The Castle features a view from the battlements that will make the most cynical of people gasp in amazement. You can see the entire city of Edinburgh on a clear day.

The castle features a Scottish War Museum which is not to be missed. It's so rich in Scottish history, which revolves quite a bit around warfare.

For any jewel-crazed woman, or man, for that matter, the castle also features the Scottish Crown Jewels, which are understandably behind lock and key in a clear display case.

You can also climb to the top of the castle for an even better view of the city, or stay down low and visit the Great Hall, decorated in weapons, a few rather large fireplaces, and paintings.

If you go to Edinburgh, and can only see one attraction, please make it the castle. You won't be disappointed.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city from every angle, and it is hard to imagine a visit to Edinburgh without visiting. It also performs as a spectacular backdrop for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo during festival each August.

I joined a guided tour on a rainy, misty day in November. Walking through the entry in the mist really felt like stepping into another time. It probably helped that most other tourists may have been deterred by the weather. Our tour guide had a gorgeous Scottish accent, which I could have listened to even if he weren't so good at bringing the castle and its history to life.

The castle is also the home of the Scottish Crown Jewels. The Stone of Destiny, the coronation stone for Scots Kings, is also on display. It was returned in 1996 after a stint down in England.

Practicalities:
It is open April – Sept. 9:30am – 6pm
October – March 9:30am – 5pm
Tickets to get in are £8, but it is worth it.