As a nation, Scotland is steeped in history. From Neolithic settlements in the Western Isles to battlefields where Wallace and Bruce fought wars of independence, remnants of the past are evident throughout the country. Perhaps more than any other location, Edinburgh and its surrounding areas are brimming
with a vast array of historical landmarks - especially castles. This article explores 16 of these awe-inspiring sites that are essential for any visit to the capital.
Edinburgh Castle sits high above the city atop Castle Rock, its commanding position on the skyline reflecting its status as a jewel in the capital's crown. Parts of the castle date back to the 12th century, and it has been besieged more frequently than any other fortress in Great Britain. The castle's significance to Scotland continues today, with the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo held in its stunning grounds, making it the country's most iconic symbol.
Situated just three miles from its older and more famous cousin, you might be forgiven for thinking the landscape around Craigmillar Castle came straight from the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Known as a refuge (and later prison) for Mary, Queen of Scots, the castle's historical importance makes it a must-visit for tourists. Though much of its maze-like architecture has crumbled over time, its 12th-century tower proudly stands at 17 meters high.
Located just a few miles west of Edinburgh, Craigcrook Castle is one of the best-preserved in the country. With a long list of owners over the centuries, one of the most notable came surprisingly late when publisher Archibald Constable became its custodian. Visitors have included Alfred Lord Tennyson, Hans Christian Andersen, and even Charles Dickens. Built with an astonishing mix of styles harmoniously fusing into a single beautiful structure, it's easy to see why Craigcrook Castle has hosted many distinguished admirers.
Lochend Castle is actually a combination of medieval ruins and the relatively modern 19th-century Lochend House. While we can trace the land's history over centuries, the castle itself is shrouded in mystery, with historical sources vaguely referring to it as "the old tower." Having appeared on maps since then, it remains a fascinating site to visit within the Edinburgh area.
The solitary ruins of Crichton Castle overlook the Tyne River, telling the story of its family's fall from grace. Surrounded by rolling pastures, its proximity to Edinburgh pays homage to Scotland's varied landscapes. With a history that includes accusations of witchcraft and a dinner that inspired the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones, the atmosphere around Crichton Castle is unmatched. Even its architecture is unique, featuring an Italian-influenced facade unlike anything else in Scotland.
The towering twin towers of Borthwick Castle make it one of Scotland's largest castles. Built by Sir William de Borthwick—who nominated himself as a hostage exchange for King James I—the castle's grandeur reflects his noble persona. Apart from being briefly ousted by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, the castle remained the seat of the Borthwick family for the past 600 years. Now used as an event venue, the castle offers open days you should not miss if you get the chance.
We can trace the buildings on Dalhousie grounds back to the mid-12th century when the English knight Symon de Ramsay erected a castle for the newly crowned King David. Now leased as a venue and spa resort, Dalhousie's history is far from peaceful. It hosted figures like Edward I and Oliver Cromwell, with its giant red stone fortress walls witnessing key events in Scotland's military history.
Perhaps best known for its use as a filming location in The Da Vinci Code, the chapel itself has had its fair share of intrigue. Having been looted by Cromwell and reclaimed by nature, Rosslyn has become synonymous with romance and artistic contemplation, welcoming visits from Alexander Nasmyth and Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. Now restored, the castle sits 9 miles south of Edinburgh and is open for visits daily.
What Lauriston Castle lacks in a complex history it makes up for in sublime beauty. Overlooking the Firth of Forth, the castle itself is surrounded by spectacular grounds that the public can freely explore. Lauriston's not-so-secret Japanese garden lies at the heart of its sprawling greenery. While losing oneself among its majestic cherry trees and serene streams may not be a typical Scottish experience, its beauty is not to be missed.
On the outskirts of what is now Prestonpans, Preston Tower stands as the last remaining fragment of a castle steeped in brutal history. One of many sites attacked by Cromwell, Preston also suffered significant damage from the Earl of Hertford under Henry VIII's orders. While you cannot access the interior of Preston Tower, its imposing structure set against a backdrop of gentle greenery is worth a visit on its own.
In life, you will make many mistakes. Eventually, those mistakes might not be so bad. Mistakes are a fundamental part of growth. I've had my share of mistakes. If I could look back on my twenties, I might have done things differently. I'd have taken more risks,
fought more battles, or embarked on more projects. Honestly, before you hit thirty, you have plenty of energy. But as you age, your passion and enthusiasm may start to fade, making it the right time to reflect on what you did right or wrong.
Here are six lessons that might change your life if you learn them before turning thirty:
Other people's opinions don't matter. Only yours does. Often, what you seek to accomplish may not align with traditional ways. Nonetheless, it's important to remember that our goals and aspirations are unique to us.
Looking back now, I would focus more on not worrying about things beyond my control, like people's opinions. According to Gary Vaynerchuk, "learn to focus on your personal matters." You'll find that the spotlight was never on you and that others were likely preoccupied with their issues anyway. So why overestimate their expectations of you?
Life was never meant to be a fair game, and it never will be. Good things can happen to bad people, and bad things can happen to good people. You might wonder why you often end up as the victim, but that doesn't truly matter. You need to learn to take responsibility for your actions and never let others' actions taint the goodness in your heart. Sometimes, the bad guy wins, and the cunning one seals the great deal instead of the hero. That's life. However, maintain a positive mindset. The way you handle adversities and move forward can define your character and make you influential. Keep victory alive in your heart.
It's true that no one likes to fail. When you're younger and in school, you somehow internalize that failure is bad and that those who fail are in last place. But in the real world, things don't always work like that. Failing while continuing to move forward and viewing each failure as a learning process drives you toward growth. You'll be more prepared for future aspirations when you fail. As long as you don't stay down and can get back up, you'll survive. By the time you reach thirty, you'll realize that failure isn't as bad as it seems. Those who have failed more often are more prepared to handle success.
You're young and might be excited about the freedom money offers. But money isn't everything. In the business world, money shouldn't be your top priority. According to Adam Legas, founder of Nanodyr8, “we’re here to be a river, not a reservoir, so let money become a tool that helps you achieve your dreams.” Instead of focusing solely on money, focus on value. Consider how you contribute to your surroundings. Think about how to connect with others and solve their problems. Build new relationships and appreciate those you currently have.
There's no doubt that your body is your vehicle to success. If you take proper care of your body, it will take care of you. Many don't realize in their youth the impact their bodies can have on their success. But trust me, your body affects your success. Alcohol's impact on your body changes as you age. It's crucial to care for your body to achieve the success you desire. Exercise not to impress anyone or burn calories, but because it'll make you feel good. It will reduce stress and enhance your mental abilities. Plus, a little physical activity for overall well-being isn't a bad idea.
As we grow older, we may need to direct our energy and time appropriately. In our youth, we seem to be everywhere. When I was young, I seemed to carry a lot on my shoulders. I was living a life doing things I thought were required of me. Going to school, getting a job, marrying, and having children seemed like the right things to do. But sometimes, we need a clearer perspective on what we truly want or need. Saying "no" to many things isn't a bad idea. As you age, you discover that it's not about working more or having no life, but about doing things that genuinely make you happy. It's about finding a purpose and living your life along a well-defined path.
You have to live life. Believe in yourself and understand that the teacher has failed many more times than the novice has attempted. Making these mistakes isn't bad if you're willing to move forward to higher levels with steadiness, determination, and resilience. Good luck on your journey to the top.
Cleaning the house is a tedious and undesirable task for many, especially for families whose children are still young and cause chaos on a daily basis. Note that a clean home not only means better health for your family, but also a better psychological state for the whole family.
Don't
think that you have to clean the house completely daily to enjoy a clean, healthy and elegant home, but some cleaning and organization tasks are very important and you should do them daily. Taking care of these small tasks will also save time and effort while doing weekly cleaning work.
All you will need is a morning and evening cleaning routine in a very limited time and you will enjoy an organized and clean house daily. This topic will focus on the morning routine.
After doing the morning tasks of breakfast and preparing the children for school, ventilate the rooms and bed linen. The bedrooms had windows, open them and remove the covers from the mattress to ventilate the mattress. If the bedroom does not have nets or is poorly ventilated, carry the covers to another room with a window or terrace and expose the covers to the sun and air to get rid of microbes and odors that result from poor ventilation.
Make sure to ventilate all rooms, especially during the summer, but during the winter season a quarter or half an hour may be enough at most to ventilate the rooms, then organize the sheets on the beds. They note that the arrangement of the beds gives a good appearance to the room and makes it look tidy.
While you are doing your morning cleaning routine, turn on the washing machine. You can divide the laundry over more than one day, taking into account the change of categories of clothes or furnishings to be washed. You can group the upholstery and towel laundry together and the house clothes alone or divide the clothes by the color "white or light together, black and dark colors separate". Dry the laundry in the dryer or spread it to dry.
Empty the dishwasher if you had left some dishes in it the day before, organize them, and then wash the dishes you used in the morning.
Wipe the dust and polish, dust is a nuisance and you will notice that it quickly forms on surfaces despite constant cleaning. If your house consists of two floors, start polishing the first floor and then the stairs down the first floor. Notice that we have started ventilating the house and then polishing to get rid of dust that may seep into the house while opening windows and ventilating rooms.
After removing the dust, you can use furniture polish for the living room and travel room for a pleasant view and smell that lasts all day.
After polishing and getting rid of dust, you can use a vacuum cleaner to quickly clean the floor and carpets. The living and dining rooms are the most dirty rooms, so even if you do not sweep daily, at least take care to sweep the two rooms to make sure their floors are clean and free of leftovers and other stains and dirt.
To reduce the chances of dirty floors, it is preferable not to enter the house with shoes, but to leave them off the door and wear slippers or carry them to the room after taking them off, depending on the location of your shoe cabinet. You can set up slippers for guests near the door. Don't be shy about asking your guests to take off their shoes, as it is common as opposed to what you think. Taking off shoes not only keeps the house clean but also reduces the chances of your family getting sick due to the bacteria and viruses that our shoes carry.
Now you can wipe the floors of the rooms you have vacuumed with a floor sponge or a polished sponge depending on the type of floor of the rooms. You will not need a lot of effort because you will clean the visible places only because they are the most used, but for careful cleaning, you will do it on the day of deep cleaning.
Some prefer to divide deep cleaning by two days so as not to be stressful. Remember, you can always organize your daily cleaning routine to suit your needs, the circumstances of your day and your daily family activity.
