Edinburgh Castles

Our first night we stayed in Borthwick Castle, one of the castles made famous by Mary, Queen of Scots. We spent a day touring Edinburgh Castle, a remarkable fortress and former royal residence, and enjoyed the splendid panoramic views of the city. The Royal apartments include a tiny room in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the boy who was to become King James VI of Scotland and James 1 of England upon the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603. The ancient Honours of Scotland - the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State - are on view in the Crown Room. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O'Clock Gun. This is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1.00pm to provide everyone with an accurate check for their clocks and watches. At the moment it fired, we were eating lunch in the Whiskey Restaurant!

Quick Tips:

We discovered that the first stop when arriving in Edinburgh should be at the Tourist Office at the main train station. There one may book tours, get free maps, arrange overnight stays in a wide variety of venues, and even meet other travelers with whom to share ideas.

Best Way To Get Around:

Once in Edinburgh, we found taking public transportation to be the best way to get around. Bus service is convenient and prompt. The first thing we did was to take a tour bus around the city to get a feel for where things were located and to get an overview of the city plan. The guides were very informative; well worth the money.

Imagine 3 old friends spending the night with Mary, Queen of Scots! We shared a marvelous room in Borthwick Castle, along with many ghosts and stories. This castle has recently been restored as a bed and breakfast, after nearly 1000 years as a castle for knights and nobles. The Borthwick church is still a house of Christian worship, and a walk through the cemetery is a walk through ancient history.

We had a very pleasant lunch in the restaurant located in the Whiskey Heritage Center. After the tour, in which we learned about the history and culture surrounding the "water of life", we enjoyed a cozy meal with attentive waiters. As we ate our "typical" Scot lunch, we listened for the "One O'Clock Cannon" just up the Royal Mile at Edinburgh Castle.