However, the castle you will undoubtedly have seen dates back to at least the 11th century, when Queen Margaret, recently widowed by the death of her husband, Malcolm III, stayed here. The chapel built in her memory is now the oldest remaining structure in the Edinburgh Castle complex.

Between 1296 and 1314, Edinburgh Castle was held by the English after being captured by Edward I. A brave surprise attack by Sir Thomas Randolph and his men recaptured the castle after they scaled the rock face.

The castle remained a royal residence until the 16th century, having a strong link with Mary Queen of Scots who lived there.

In 1573, sadly much of the early castle was destroyed in the Lang Siege when Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange began bombarding the town. The subsequent rebuilding led to the appearance of the castle we see today.

During the 1745 Jacobite Rising under “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, Edinburgh Castle saw its last battle, albeit much more sedate than previous uprisings. Following this, the castle was used to hold prisoners of war.

Since the 1830s, Edinburgh Castle has been put on public display. It is most famous for this today, opening up many of its rooms to displays. The public can get great views over Edinburgh from the castle, and also see the famous gun Mons Meg, which was returned to the castle from London in 1829. It dates from 15th century Flanders.

Wikipedia is a fantastic resource for a more detailed history of Edinburgh Castle.

The official website for Edinburgh Castle, with information on opening times and prices, is http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/

Historic Walking Guides: Edinburgh
(2009, Destinworld Publishing)

A new travel book on Edinburgh featuring many walking routes through the city, each taking in the historic sights and attractions along the way.

Historic Walking Guides: Edinburgh is written by local author Andy Hayes, who consulted with local historians and spent many hours walking the streets to uncover the city’s history and hidden gems. For those visiting Edinburgh for the first time, this book takes you to and explains the relevance of all of the main historic attractions and sights in the city. Alternatively, if you’re already familiar with Edinburgh, this book takes you further into the past with detailed historical information which other guidebooks fail to delve into.

This book is the perfect companion for any visit to Edinburgh for those with any interest in history. With carefully crafted walks through many parts of the city, no corner is left undiscovered. Andy is a master of description, and his enthusiasm for Edinburgh shines through with every sight he takes us to.

For more information on the book, and to order a copy, please visit this link.
Alternatively, you can find it on Amazon.

Most famously, Greyfriar’s is the graveyard where a dog named Bobby stood guard over his owner’s grave for 14 years, before dying and being buried nearby himself.

These cemeteries have some unique tombstones and architecture and really echo of the history of the city and its people, but sadly many have fallen into neglect, being used by drug addicts and youths.

However, finally a number of these sites have found their way onto the list of the World Monuments Fund, recognising their importance and need for protection. This fund lists sites around the world which need to be preserved and protected, so this is great news for the cemeteries in Edinburgh.

The five cemeteries which have made this list are:

- Canongate
- Grayfriars
- New Calton
- Old Calton
- St. Cuthbert’s

Read the full story at this link

She mentions that the book covers some of her favourite walks, and goes on to say:

Andy’s book enables you to explore the real Edinburgh at your own pace. It took me years to discover all these Edinburgh walks, so you can start your Edinburgh trip with detailed insider knowledge. It’s best to purchase the book before you arrive in Edinburgh, so you can decide in advance which walks are of most interest to you.

We’re glad Karen enjoyed the book and we’re sure you will too.  Be sure to get your copy today.

The shops they recommend are:
Totty Rocks
Concrete Wardrobe
Boudiche
Armstrongs
Jane Davidson
Joseph Bonnar
Godiva
Herman Brown
Cabaret
K1 Yarns Knitting Boutique

All are centrally located and easy to walk to if you’re in the city.

You can read the post here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/scotland/article6794530.ece

This is just one quote from an interesting walk around Edinburgh based on its famous novelist son Ian Rankin’s favourite haunts posted recently by The Times newspaper.

You can read the full article at this link

Running from 15-31 August, it is described as: An inspiring literary festival, the world’s largest public celebration of the written word, right in the heart of Edinburgh: hundreds of author events, debates and workshops packed into 17 extraordinary days each August.

If you want to learn a bit more about the festival, visit http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

We’re working hard to get the release of Historic Walking Guides Edinburgh in time for this festival. It would make the ideal companion for your trip if you’re visiting the book festival.

Here’s a little sneak preview of one of the walks on the guide - a wander along the Royal Mile.  Here’s the map:

As you’ll see from the map, this section of the book is *packed* with interesting stops along theh Royal Mile, including:

• Edinburgh Castle - the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland
• Moubray House - the oldest inhabited building in the city of Edinburgh
• Gladstone’s Land - see what life was like in medieval Edinburgh
• Palace of Holyroodhouse - Her Majesty the Queen’s official residence in Scotland

The guide includes details on all the best attractions, including opening times, website informtion, and of course the historical angle.

The Royal Mile is a pretty easy walk - it’s just one street, as you can see - but the number of attractions competing for your attention is crazy.  The Edinburgh Historic Walking Guide can help - we even include places to eat and little secrets about some of the medieval architecture that is still visible today.

See you in Edinburgh!

Reflections on the Union Canal

Getting some perspective on Calton Hill

A great view from Cramond Island

Signage in the Grassmarket

A twilight shot of St Giles Church on the Royal Mile

Get a Local’s Perspective

I’m based here in Edinburgh and while I’ve not lived here my entire life, I’ve come to love the city as my home. I’ve included local secrets and tidbits that you won’t find in the other guides. From hidden gardens open to the public to railway tunnels and other walks often missed by many tours, I want to make sure you have the opportunity to experience Edinburgh just like you would if you lived here.

Learn the City’s History

To help set the stage, I started the guide with a run-down of the city history. You’ll learn about the original fort that stood on castle hill; the Roman invasion and subsequent abandonment; and the continued power struggles between the growing nations of England and Scotland. You’ll also learn about more modern events, such as the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

Find Everything by Foot

The walks I have put together cover nearly the entire city. The are designed to be mix-and-match, so I can guide you to nearly any of the attractions you want to see. The walks also note lengths and fitness levels required, so you can gauge how much will fit in a day. Don’t worry - almost all the walks are fairly easygoing and you can always jump on a local, inexpensive bus along the route.

Fill up on Local Grub

I have included some of my favourite restaurants from across the city. Instead of fretting about where to go, let me recommend! I’ve included suggestions for all cuisine types - British, vegetarian, and Indian, and several others.

See the Best Attractions

Just to save you the hassle, I mention opening times, prices, and websites for all of the major historic attractions in the city. This will help you plan your day and ensure you don’t miss anything. You’ll be able to match up the attractions with each walk, so you can easily identify you top spots for the duration of your trip.

Be sure to signup for our mailing list to be notified when the guide is available in shops. Just send an email to info@destinworld.com and let the friendly folk there know you’d like to be on the Edinburgh list. Looking forward to hearing about your trip to Edinburgh!

In the meantime, stay tuned to the website for more tips, information, and suggestions for the best of Edinburgh.