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CastleUK Blog
April 2010
The blog page, a place where I can record and then archive my monthly updates and what's new in our hunt for castles UK.
All of this months mighty Scottish castles, are from Midlothian.
March was castle hunting time and we had a 4 day hunt around Penicuik in Scotland, we'd miss so many sites with the snow in January, we just had to go back.
Still no news on the Time Team Channel4 site but the unofficial Time Team site says the 2010 series begins with Westminster Abbey on Sunday 18 April, 5:30-6:30pm on Channel 4, so that's good news. I don't know why but March was a busy month for me, I just didn't seem to have enough time. Being behind with the website didn't help and work always gets in the way but I just couldn't manage my time, anyway I've got things back in order and I'm determined to update on time in May. So I'm going to crack on and leave this blog short and not very sweet.
Click on the pictures, for more information. |
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Edinburgh Castle, OS 66/NT 251-735 Midlothian Scotland, is this months wallpaper, its my Easter wallpaper and I like the picture to include a church or this time a castle chapel.
The picture was taken in January 2010 when it was castle snow time and this is my first indoor view wallpaper. The 12th century St Margaret's Chapel is the oldest building in Edinburgh and members of the castle garrison still have the right to be married within the Chapel. The view is of the altar through the beautiful Norman arch and the lighting gives shades of colour with shadows and the blues in the stained glass window catches the eye. |
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Dirleton Castle, OS 66/NT 515-840 Midlothian Scotland.
Is a mid 13th century stone enclosure fortress, founded by John de Vaux. Standing on a rocky knoll, originally a cluster of five towers with an imposing cylindrical keep on the south-west corner, were encased by a wet ditch. The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open daily, April to September 9:30-5:30pm, October to March 9:30-4:30pm.
The castle served as the residence of three noble families, the de Vauxes, Haliburtons and Ruthvens but with the subsequent downfall of the Ruthvens saw the castle abandoned as a noble residence but a great ruin. The gardens in the castle grounds, date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the formal Victorian west garden, with its foliage plants and pelargoniums was faithfully reconstructed in 1993. The beautiful north garden dates from the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1920s and its fragrant herbaceous borders are the first thing the visitor sees on entering the castle. |
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Hailes Castle, OS 67/NT 574-758 Midlothian Scotland.
Was originally a late 13th century stone fortified three storey manor house, probably founded by Hugo de Gourlay. Standing on the south bank of the River Tyne, Sir Adam de Hepburn absorbed the house in the construction of an early 14th century four storey keep and courtyard fortress. The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open daily, April to September 9:30-7:00pm Sunday 2:00-7:00pm, October to March 9:30-4:00pm Sunday 2:00-4:00pm.
Beautifully sited ruin here, bang next to the river, on a sunny day it's a place to sit and rest awhile. |
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Tantallon Castle, OS 67/NT 596-850 Midlothian Scotland.
Is a mid 14th century stone enclosure fortress, founded by William Douglas. Standing on a promontory there are formidable defences along the landward side, the great red sandstone curtain wall, with its three towers and a wide, deep ditch to the fore, still stands remarkably entire. The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open daily, April to September 9:30-5:30pm, October 9:30-4:30pm, November to March Saturday to Wednesday 9:30-4:30pm.
Stunning location on a high cliff edge overlooking the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock Castle, the mighty stone curtain wall is absolutely the best 14th century castle architecture anywhere in Scotland. Well you've just got to do it, it's a long way to the top of that wall, not for the faint hearted but worth the effort. |
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