Timeline
13:00
Start with a dram at the distillery. The small distillery makes whisky, vodka, gin and rum. A tour costs £22 and gives you a chance to taste before the light changes.
14:00
Walk to the castle ruins. This extensive ruin was built from the 14th century and abandoned in the 18th. It is where the plot to murder Lord Darnley was hatched. Check the bus 42 route if you are coming from the city centre. The castle is open daily from 9:30AM in this season.
15:00
Watch the golden light hit the stone. The sun sets toward the SW, casting a warm glow over the medieval walls as the day winds down.
16:00
End the evening with a pint. Head to The Pear Tree, a popular pub with students. It has a large beer garden and an outdoor big screen for TV sports. It is open until 01:00.
Local tip
The castle is open daily 9:30AM-5:30PM from April to September. The distillery is open 11:30-19:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
Check before you go
- Craigmillar Castle hours: Apr-Sep: daily 9:30AM-5:30PM; Oct-Mar: daily 10AM-4PM.
- Holyrood Distillery hours: Mo-We,Su 11:30-19:00; Th-Sa 11:30-20:00.
- Check the bus 42 route from the city centre.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).