Here you see Craigmillar Castle, a medieval castle located only about 2 miles from where we are staying on the outskirts of Edinburgh. You know, I've visited a LOT of castles on my trips to Scotland, but I have to say that I think this is my favorite.
Because Cromwell never had an opportunity to ruin it, Craigmillar is actually a well-preserved property with a tower house, inner courtyard and a large garden area surrounded by a stone wall.
I was enchanted with it the minute that I walked through the gate.
Walking through the entrance added to my delight.
The trees growing in the courtyard just seemed so cozy.
The rain kept coming in waves while we were exploring the castle and the grounds, but there were plenty of roofed rooms that had survived all of these years. So, Marty and I would just wait out the rain until it cleared, then head out to enjoy the views.
Look closely and you'll see Edinburgh Castle towards the left of the photo, with Arthur's seat on the right.
Here's a lovely view of the courtyard from the top of the castle.
And a view of the chapel ruins
Mary, Queen of Scots visited Craigmillar when she wanted peace and tranquility. It's easy to see why this castle would be a haven for her.
The only downfall of our visit was a brush with a pair of pigeons, who, unbeknownst to us, must have been nesting in one of the rooms. I went to walk through the doorway when one of the birds came flying directly towards my head. I ducked and darted off in the opposite direction. Marty stuck his head in the room, only to be startled by another pigeon who was obviously quite unhappy with our presence. That was enough to convince us to stay out of there!
I just think that we were fortunate that we didn't choose that particular spot to run into when the rain began to fall. Who knows what our fate would have been?
The next stop on our list was the Glenkinchie Distillery. The place wasn't that easy to find, hidden among the farmland of Midlothian, but we eventually found the place and headed in for a delightful and informative tour of just how whiskey is made.
The tour ends with whiskey tasting, and I must admit, that the single malt lowland whiskey, aged 12 years, was the first that I've tasted that didn't burn going down. Not that I would be considered to be a Whiskey connoisseur by any means. In fact, I generally can't stand the stuff. But, I could see partaking in just a "wee bit" of this stuff on occasion.
Our last stop of the day, and of this trip, was at Rosslyn Chapel.
This chapel was built in 1446 by William St. Clair and took 40 years to build. The inside is filled with ornately carved sandstone depicting many stories from the Bible. I cannot begin to describe the detail that is presented on the walls, ceilings and columns inside this building. The ceiling in itself is a marvel to look at.
No photography was permitted, so I am sorry that I cannot share the beauty with you.
Rosslyn chapel became quite famous when it was featured in the plot climax of The Da Vinci Code. The chapel became inundated with thousands of people, taking them quite by surprise.
As a result of this sudden interest, the chapel proprietors found themselves making quite a profit, and they decided to invest the money in a bigger and better, "state of the art" visitor center.
From my viewpoint, here's what state of the art will get you:
Square bathroom fixtures. Certainly a first in my book. How about your's?
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