Scottish Houses
Liberton Tower
Braid Hills, south Edinburgh
late 15th century castle, restored by Castles of Scotland Preservation Trust
Liberton Tower is available for holiday letting; telephone Country Cottages Scotland on +44 (0)870 444 1133
Edinburgh Castle
Scottish Architects of the past
Scottish Castles in Edinburgh & Lothian
Scottish Country Houses
Other Edinburgh & Lothian Castles & Houses:
Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow, off the M9
The ruin of a great Royal Palace set in its own park beside Linlithgow Loch. Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. All the Stewart kings lived here from James I (1406-37); later it housed Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland
1st Apr to 30th Sep
Mon - Sun 9.30 to last entry 6pm (closes 6.30pm)
1st Oct to 31st Mar
Mon - Sat 9.30am to last entry 4pm (closes 4.30pm)
Sun 2pm to 4.30pm
+44 (0)1506 842896
hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Luffness Castle
Luffness, Aberlady, East Lothian
off A198, 0.5m east of Aberlady
+44 (0)1875 870 218 fax +44 (0)1875 870 730
info@luffnesscastle.co.uk
limited accommodation for guests
Melville Castle
Melville Gate, Gilmerton Road, nr Dalkeith, Midlothian
+44 (0)131 654 0088 fax +44 (0)131 654 4666
reception@melvillecastle.com
Midhope Castle
west of Abercorn, West Lothain
minor roads north off A904
16th century, Category A Scheduled Monument
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Canongate (base of Royal Mile), central Edinburgh
The ruined nave of the 12th and 13th century abbey church, built for Augustinian canons. Abbey and palace administered by the Lord Chamberlain
The three-storey building on Abbey Strand has its origins in the late 15th or early 16th century. It was partly rebuilt in 1544 and was heavily restored in 1916. The buildings to the east began as an extension to the west tenement in the mid 16th century
+44 (0)131 556 7371
holyroodhouse@royalcollection.org.uk
Peffermill House
This stone-built fortified tower-house from 1636 stands in four acres of gardens at the end of a private drive. It is an A-listed building, renovated a number of years ago and can be rented out.
Preston Tower
central Prestonpans, East Lothian
Mercat Cross 50m to south-east
Redhouse Castle
Redhouse, Spittal, East Lothian
just east of Longniddry, 1m south of Aberlady, south off B1377
Ruin: 16th century courtyard castle
Tantallon Castle
3m east of North Berwick off the A198, East Lothian
Built in the mid-14th century. Set on the edge of the cliffs, looking out to Bass Rock, the castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family. It features earthwork defences & a 50ft-high 14th-century curtain wall with towers
+44 (0)1620 892727
hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Closed Thu afternoons & Fri in Winter
HISTORIC HOUSES
Dalmeny House
South Queensferry, off A90, north-west of Edinburgh
Home of the Lord Rosebery.
Barnbougle Castle (3rd picture, in distance at tip) was the previous home prior to Dalmeny House.
+44 (0)131 331 1888
events@dalmeny.co.uk
Dalmeny House
The Georgian House
7 Charlotte Square, New Town, central Edinburgh
+44 (0)131 226 2160
information@nts.org.uk
House of the Binns
4m east of Linlithgow, off A904, West Lothian
+44 (0)1506 834255
information@nts.org.uk
Gladstone's Land
477b Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, Old Town, central Edinburgh
+44 (0)131 226 5856
information@nts.org.uk
John Knox House
43/45 High Street, Old Town, central Edinburgh
The original 15th century house is largely unaltered since the 1550's when the Mosman family, Goldsmiths to Mary Queen of Scots, remodelled the house. John Knox, leader of the Scottish Reformation and founder of the Presbyterian Church, lived here for a short time before dying here in 1572.
Maintained by the Church of Scotland, the museum holds an exhibition about Knox's life and times.
10am - 4.30pm excluding Sun
(Additional times during Summer)
info@johnknoxhouse.org.uk
+44 (0)131 556 9579/2647 fax +44 (0)131 557 5224
John Knox House
Hopetoun House
2m west of South Queensferry, off A904, north-west of Edinburgh, West Lothian
+44 (0)131 331 2451
dayvisits@hopetounhouse.com
John Muir Birthplace
126 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian
John Muir Birthplace opened August 2003
See the John Muir House page on the Edinburgh Archiecture site
Lennoxlove House
1m south of Haddington, off B6369, East Lothian
+44 (0)1620 823720
info@lennoxlove.com
Lennoxlove House
Mavisbank House
not strictly open to public, ruin
Mavisbank House
Nelson Monument
Calton Hill, central Edinburgh
Perched high on Calton Hill, at the cast end of the city centre, is the monument to Admiral Lord Nelson's victory, and death, at the battle of Trafalgar, on 21 October 1805. The upturned telescope was designed by the architect Robert Burn, and built between 1807 and 1815. In 1852, a large time ball was introduced, which is lowered as the one o'clock gun is fired from Edinburgh castle each day.
Climb the 143 steps to see the tremendous views, framed by Fife to the north, the Forth estuary to the east, the Moorfoot hills to the south and the Forth Rail and Road Bridges to the west.
Apr - Sep
Mon 1pm - 6pm
Tue to Sat 10am - 6pm
Oct to Mar
Mon to Sat 10am - 3pm
+44 (0)131 556 2716
For other buildings on Calton Hill see end of Edinburgh New Town Tour
Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot
eastern edge of East Linton, on B1407, off A1, East Lothian
Preston Mill (turn right just when leaving village)
Phantassie Doocot (approx. 1 km walk south over river)
+44 (0)1620 860426
information@nts.org.uk
Scott Monument
East Princes Street Gardens, New Town, central Edinburgh
Sir Walter Scott died in 1832. In 1836, an architectural competition was launched, inviting designs for an appropriate memorial to Scotland's famous writer. Two years later, the trustees approved the design submitted by George Meikle Kemp, who entered under a pseudonym. Construction began in 1840, after permission was obtained from Parliament to build in Princes Street Gardens. It opened in August 1846; sadly Kemp died by drowning. It's possible to climb the 200 foot structure to admire its views of the city centre, and to obtain a closer look at the statuettes of characters from Scott's works. The white Carrarra marble figure is of course Sir Walter with his faifthful hound, Maida.
1 Apr - 30 Sep
Mon to Sat 9am - 6pm
Sun 10am - 6pm
1 Oct to 31 Mar
Mon to Sat 9am - 3pm
Sun 10am - 3pm
+44 (0)131 529 4068
Winton House
0.5m north of Pencaitland, off B6355, East Lothian
Winton House, dates from the 15th century when a tower house was built on the land granted by King David I in around 1152.
Burned to ruins under Henry VIII and later restored, the house is now the home of Sir Francis and Lady Oglivy. It has housed guests such as Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Open days for 2003: May 3 - 4 from 12.30pm till 4.30pm
open first weekend in May & June: check details below:
+44 (0)1620 814986
Winton House
Arniston House
1m north-east of Temple, Gorebridge, Midlothian
April, May and June: Arniston House is open to the public every Tue & Wed for Guided Tours (approx.1 hr.),starting at 2pm and 3.30pm
T he grounds are open from 2pm to 5pm
From July to 14th Sep the house is open for Guided Tours on every day of the week except Sat starting at 2 pm and 3.30 pm
The grounds are open from 2pm to 5pm
Outwith these dates parties of between 10 and 50 are welcomed by prior arrangement
Entry to the house is by tour only
+44 (0)1875 830 515 fax: +44 (0)1875 830 515
Arniston House
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Historic Scottish Houses Building - page: adrian welch / isabelle lomholt