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A gorgeous castle ruin in Edinburgh, accessible by public transit? Sign me up! Check out Craigmillar Castle, and grab a pint at the Sheep Heid Inn!
Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh
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Interested in visiting Edinburgh's
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View from the tower
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Yes, you do need a ticket to visit Craigmillar Castle! You can pick up your reasonably priced tickets at the little ticket house upon your arrival. As of 2020, adults are 6 pounds/ person. |
Fireplace, Craigmillar Castle
What should I see at Craigmillar Castle?
Spend some time exploring the stunning Craigmillar Castle. The main, and best preserved, portion of the castle is the tower, begun in the 14th century. Crawl through all the nooks and crannies (and feel your heart drop when you, lost in some forgotten room, when you are are surprised by another tourist).
Craigmillar is safe (some parts have been discreetly reinforced. Other parts are blocked off). As the Castle is not generally crowded, you can stand, completely alone, in rooms forgotten by time and ravaged by weather. Fun fact: Craigmillar Castle was featured in Outlaw King, with Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce (Fall, 2018).
Craigmillar is safe (some parts have been discreetly reinforced. Other parts are blocked off). As the Castle is not generally crowded, you can stand, completely alone, in rooms forgotten by time and ravaged by weather. Fun fact: Craigmillar Castle was featured in Outlaw King, with Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce (Fall, 2018).
View of Arthur's Seat from Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh
After you’ve had your fill of imagining medieval ramparts, intrigue, and sword fighting, it’s obviously time for a drink. (You could also hop on the bus and go back to Edinburgh…) If you’re in for the walk, turn left out of the Castle’s entrance, and go down the hill. Again, I would take a picture of a map, or (gasp!!) bring a real map, because it’s a mile and a half walk (on largely unmarked roads).
Learn how you can avoid making the top 10 Tourist Mistakes in Scotland!
The Oldest Pub in Scotland:
The Sheep Heid Inn, Duddingston
The Bonnie Prince at the Sheep's Heid
How to get to The Sheep Heid Inn from Craigmillar Castle
From the craggy, forgotten beauty of Craigmillar Castle, though the gritty reality of the surrounding area, you’ll walk past a small loch, and emerge in Duddingston - a former independent village, now subsumed into an Edinburgh suburb.
On the sweetest little street (left off the main road), you’ll find The Sheep Heid Inn - which many believe to be the first of many, many, many pubs in Scotland. Its website touts a 1360 establishment date.
On the sweetest little street (left off the main road), you’ll find The Sheep Heid Inn - which many believe to be the first of many, many, many pubs in Scotland. Its website touts a 1360 establishment date.
Time for a pint at The Sheep Heid Inn
The Sheep Heid Inn, Duddingston, Edinburgh
The Sheep Heid is gorgeous - perfectly updated, yet charmingly historic. They’ve added a lovely outdoor drinking area and offer a full menu (more than just "pub" food). We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon, and the pub was in full swing. We ended up cramming into a small table with strangers, which was completely worth it.
Famous visitors to the Sheep Heid Inn
Your fellow drinkers may once have included Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son, James VI of Scotland (James I of England) - as the pub is situated exactly halfway between Holyrood Palace (home base of Scottish Royal Family) and Craigmillar Castle (where Queen Mary lived, for a time).
Getting back to Edinburgh from the Sheep Heid Inn
When you've wrapped up your time at the Sheep Heid Inn, go right out of the pub, back down the little street, then turn right again toward the main street that got you to Duddington, left and there’s a bus shelter (you’ll see it). The bus will take you back to the main parts of Edinburgh (make sure you get on going the right way!!), but be warned - the bus doesn’t come extremely often. Another option would be to have the Sheep’s Heid call you a cab, if you aren't able to use your phone.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you enjoy your trip to Craigmillar Castle and the Sheep Heid Inn as much as we did! Don't forget to sign-up for the blog newsletter to receive all of my Anglophile musings delivered straight to your inbox!
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