Our group visited Edinburgh Castle
shortly after we arrived in Scotland. After strolling up the Royal Mile, we
arrived at the castle, just as a wedding was ending. Edinburgh Castle was
stunning: full of rich history, knowledgeable and friendly tour guides, and fantastic
views of the architecture, the Firth of
Forth (an estuary that flows into the River Forth and on into the North Sea), and
the lush Scottish countryside, including the dormant volcano the castle rests
upon. For more information, see http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk.
If you visit Edinburgh castle, a
complimentary tour is included with your ticket. You may take as many tours as
you like; we took two and jumped in on another. The tour guides are a font of
information. In addition to the knowledge they possess, they are super friendly
and are seemingly willing to answer any question.
As we strolled about the grounds, it
was obvious how much the Scottish people revere their ancestors and history.
From St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest structure in the castle built in the
12th century, to Thomas Randolph who invaded the castle and took it by stealth
from the English in 1314, to the Scottish National War Museum honoring
Scotland’s fallen soldiers of World War I, heritage and pride were everywhere. Many
of the sites and stories also tied in to the subject matter of our class,
international leadership and culture.
The tour guides told us the story of
Thomas Randolph, the nephew of Robert the Bruce, the reigning Scottish King in
1314. Edinburgh Castle had been in English hands for approximately 20 years. Randolph
and a few of his men snuck into the castle via a secret path in the middle of
the night and took it by force from behind the castle walls, effectively ending
the English occupation.
The castle has housed soldiers,
stored munitions, and provided “hospitality” to prisoners of war from all over
the world, including England, Ireland, France, America, and Germany throughout
its history. Today, the castle continues to welcome visitors, including brides
and grooms tying the knot in St. Margaret’s Chapel. Visiting Scotland? Make
this important historical landmark one of your first stops. It’s truly amazing!
-Shelly Gardner
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| The proud CEHD group at Edinburgh Castle Gatehouse. From top to bottom, left to right: Shelley, Melissa, Cicely, Tracey, Dr. Stone, Stephanie K., Dr. Herd, John, Megan, Caroline, and Stephanie P. |
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| Stephanie K., Dr. Herd, Shelley, and the curiosity for men with kilt. |
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| Edinburgh Castle. |
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| Lion statue with coat of arms. |
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| Edinburgh Castle. |
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| Gentlemen attending a wedding at St. Margaret's Chapel. |
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