Craigmillar Castle is a largely intact medieval castle on the south-eastern edge of Edinburgh, about three miles from the city centre, built around a tower house of the late 1300s that is among the earliest of its kind in Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots stayed there in 1566, and it is now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. It’s open daily from 9.30am, with adult tickets from £7.50 online, and it makes a quieter, far less crowded alternative to Edinburgh Castle, with views back across the city to Arthur’s Seat and the castle rock.

History of Craigmillar Castle

The Preston Family and the Tower House

Craigmillar Castle began as a tower house built by the Preston family in the late 1300s. According to Historic Environment Scotland, it was among the first castles of this type in Scotland. The tower stands 17 metres to its battlements, with walls almost 3 metres thick, and holds a maze of rooms, including a fine great hall on the first floor and a prison. Over the following centuries each owner added to it: the well-preserved courtyard wall of the 1400s, with gunholes shaped like upside-down keyholes, encloses a private family chapel and other buildings. The Prestons also left their mark on the landscape, in the remains of a fishpond laid out in the shape of a letter P.

Mary Queen of Scots at Craigmillar, 1566

Mary Queen of Scots used Craigmillar as a safe haven in 1566, a mile outside Edinburgh’s old city walls, close to the politics of the capital but pleasingly separate from it. The castle’s owner, Sir Simon Preston, was a loyal supporter whom Mary had appointed Provost of Edinburgh. Visitors are shown ‘Queen Mary’s Room’ on the first floor of the tower house, but Historic Environment Scotland itself suggests she more likely had a multi-roomed apartment, probably in the east range.

The Craigmillar Bond and Lord Darnley

The Craigmillar Bond is the castle’s darkest association. During Mary’s stay in late 1566, a group of her leading nobles are said to have met at Craigmillar to discuss how she might be freed from her unhappy marriage to her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. In February 1567 Darnley was murdered at Kirk o’ Field in Edinburgh. Whether a written ‘bond’ to kill him was ever signed at Craigmillar, and how much Mary knew, are questions historians still debate; no original document survives.

Sir Simon Preston: From Host to Jailer

Sir Simon Preston’s story turned with Mary’s fortunes. After her capture in 1567, the loyal host of the previous year became her jailer for her first night as a prisoner, which she spent at his townhouse on Edinburgh’s High Street, before she was taken to Lochleven Castle the next day.

The Gilmours and the Castle’s Decline

Craigmillar passed from the Prestons to Sir John Gilmour, a leading lawyer and later Lord President of the Court of Session, in 1660, and the west range was rebuilt as a family home for the Gilmours. When the family eventually moved to a more modern house nearby in the 18th century, the castle was left to fall into ruin. Its gardens and grounds survive today as Craigmillar Castle Park, a reminder of its days as a country retreat on the edge of the capital.

Craigmillar Castle and Outlander

Craigmillar Castle’s courtyard and ruins stood in for Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie Fraser is held, in the third series of the television drama Outlander. It’s one of several Historic Environment Scotland sites used by the production, and fans of the series will recognise the courtyard.

Visiting Craigmillar Castle: Practical Information

Opening Times

Period	Hours
1 April to 30 September	Daily, 9.30am to 5pm
1 October to 31 March	Daily, 9.30am to 4pm

Last entry: 30 minutes before closing.

Closed: 25 and 26 December, and 1 and 2 January. Historic Environment Scotland also posts one-off changes on its website, such as an early 2.30pm closure on Saturday 3 October 2026, and bad weather can close the site.

Craigmillar Castle Tickets

Ticket	Online	In person
Adult	£7.50	£8.50
Concession	£6.00	£6.80
Child (7–15)	£4.50	£5.00
Historic Scotland members	Free	Free

Family tickets: Several family options are available when booking.

Explorer Pass: Entry is included in Historic Environment Scotland’s Explorer Pass, which covers its ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, for 14 consecutive days.

Discounts: Young Scot card holders pay £1. Arriving car-free by train, bus or bike earns 25% off when you book online with the code GOOD25 and show your ticket or bike on arrival. Up to two accompanying carers go free per transaction.

Getting to Craigmillar Castle

Address: Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SY.

By bus: Regular buses run from central Edinburgh to the ‘Craigmillar Castle Road’ stops on Peffermill Road and on Old Dalkeith Road; the castle is about a 15-minute walk from either. There’s no pavement on Craigmillar Castle Road itself, so follow the pedestrian paths through the park.

By bike: About 10 minutes from the Innocent Railway Tunnel on National Cycle Network Route 1, though the route includes busy on-road sections. There’s cycle parking outside the visitor centre.

By car: Historic Environment Scotland warns that parking at the castle is very limited and spaces can’t be guaranteed, and recommends coming by public transport. Coaches and minibuses should email ticketing@hes.scot before booking.

Accessibility and Facilities

Approach: The visitor centre has level access, and a gently inclined 100-metre tarmac path leads to the castle, with a bench halfway. There’s one accessible parking bay.

Inside: A steep grassy slope leads into the inner courtyard and can be slippery when wet. The tower’s five levels are reached by narrow, uneven spiral stone staircases with rope handrails, and light levels are low on the stairs. Staff can help if a route isn’t suitable.

Facilities: A shop, self-service tea and coffee, water bottle refill, and cycle racks. Assistance dogs are welcome.

How Long to Allow and Nearby

Time needed: An hour or so covers the castle; add time for the walk through Craigmillar Castle Park from the bus stops.

Nearby: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat are about two miles away, making an easy pairing for a day on Edinburgh’s south-east side.

Prices last checked: September 2026.
Opening hours last checked: September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Mary Queen of Scots really sleep in Queen Mary’s Room at Craigmillar?

Probably not. Historic Environment Scotland says the room on the first floor of the tower house is where she is said to have slept in 1566, but that she more likely had a multi-roomed apartment, probably in the east range.

Was Craigmillar Castle in Outlander?

Yes. Craigmillar Castle was used as Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie Fraser is held, in the third series of Outlander.

How much does it cost to visit Craigmillar Castle?

Adult tickets cost £7.50 online or £8.50 in person. Concessions are £6.00 online, children aged 7 to 15 are £4.50 online, and Historic Scotland members go free.

Is there parking at Craigmillar Castle?

Only very limited parking, and spaces can’t be guaranteed. Historic Environment Scotland recommends arriving by bus, and car-free visitors can get 25% off by booking online with the code GOOD25.

What is the Craigmillar Bond?

The Craigmillar Bond is the alleged agreement made by Mary Queen of Scots’ nobles at Craigmillar in late 1566 to rid her of her husband, Lord Darnley, who was murdered in February 1567. No original document survives, and whether a bond was actually signed is still debated.

Can you visit Craigmillar Castle Park and gardens for free?

Yes. Craigmillar Castle Park, the parkland around the castle, is open to walk through. Entry to the castle itself, including its courtyard and the tower, requires a ticket.

Craigmillar is the quieter partner to Edinburgh’s better-known sights: pair it with Arthur’s Seat, or see how Mary’s story continues at Stirling Castle, where she was crowned. Browse more castles and historic attractions, or return to the Scotland hub.