Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle is located 4.8 km south east of the city centre, and was begun in the 14th century by the Preston family, and was expanded and renovated throughout the 15th and 16th centuries.

It is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

Entrance to the castle grounds. 

P-shaped pond - 'P' for Preston

Scotland!

For shooting enemies!

Lots of the floors were gone.. which resulted in floating doorways and fireplaces. 

The castle grounds were gorgeous, and the castle itself was in way better shape than you'd think to look at it from the outside - you are able to go all the way up to the top of the main building, and into the cellars, prisons, and basements of the lower part of the castle. Pretty much all of the staircases were spiral, which was super cool, and I went everywhere in the castle, except down one spiral staircase that the steps were just too narrow (even with the rope they give you to hold on to). 

Dovecote... now full of pigeons.  

On the grounds were a church and burial site, and inside was a large courtyard, a considerable number of kitchens with fireplaces so big I could stand in them, bedrooms (some with their own latrines - fancy!), chambers, basements, storage areas, and a prison!

The corner towers were equipped with slits for shooting from.

So many spiral staircases!

I'm on the battlements!

And in the great hall!

Castle!

Very, very cool being there. It was about a 35-min bus ride out there, so not very far, and was a lot cheaper than Edinburgh Castle... it was also very empty... I think I saw maybe four other people? It was like having the place to myself... which is good, considering how many times I was talking to myself and exclaiming out loud... or just jumping up and down in excitement.