Scotland is a country that has survived many battles and many changes of power. Those facts are evident on the first stop of your Castles in Scotland tour. There is nothing like walking into a castle the first time. You feel yourself almost transported back in time as you look around you. And allow yourself to go there; allow yourself to be taken back to another place and another time. As you stand in the great throne room, allow yourself to see the kings and queens of old as they sit on their thrones and do their best to govern.

The only way to truly appreciate the experience of castles in Scotland is to know where you are and know the history of the castle. Make sure that you have a castle guide in your travel pack. It’s not hard to find a castle guide that includes descriptions of the main castles you will see in Scotland. In fact, there are so many castles in Scotland that you will probably not be able to see them all before you have to leave the country. For that reason, make sure you know what castles you want to see before you begin looking at castles in Scotland.

Many people are almost disappointed the first time they walk into a castle. They expect castles to be these great and glorious things, which they are, but at the same time it is important to keep in mind that these castles are old. Most, if not all, are no longer inhabited and all are in various states of disrepair. The draw of castles in Scotland is that they are old, not that they are still the current homes of kings and queens.

That being said, there are also many castles in Scotland that are in great shape and used regularly for functions. Those castles are also available to see and tour. People have long understood the allure of castles in Scotland and many families have restored the castles of their ancestors to their glory or at least made them habitable for people to see and tour. If you are looking for restored castles in Scotland, then make that a priority.

As you wander through the Scottish countryside, you will probably be surprised how many castles and remnants of castles in Scotland that you will see. As stated earlier, the history of Scotland is everywhere and everyone knows that. You will see just pieces of what once stood as the pride and joy of an area. You will see what could still be a working castle today. There is so much history and so much pride that surrounds castles in Scotland, you will always have something to see and something to experience. A word of caution; if you happen upon the ruins of a castle and want to explore, proceed with caution. While the Scottish people are kind and generous people, ruins are not always safe and not always place where visitors are welcome. If there is a home nearby, you would do well to inquire about the ruins before you enter. To some, castles in Scotland are sacred.

Whether you are looking for castles in Scotland that remain untouched by conveniences such as electricity and running water or are looking for castles in Scotland that could be the perfect place for a wedding reception, there is a castle that seems to have come right out of your dreams. Get familiar with local customs and geography and step back in time with castles in Scotland. Go exploring with an open mind, a curious heart, and a great attitude and you will see just how amazing castles in Scotland can really be!

Smooth Hound http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/ offers affordable hotel, guest house and bed & breakfast accommodation throughout Scotland and the rest of the world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Wander

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The Castle led a very turbulent and colourful life having a succession of owners. A total of 265 executions took place within her walls, as well as the infamous Pendle witch trials of 1612. A total of ten people were tried and convicted of witchcraft. If you were unlucky enough to be imprisoned within her walls from the later half of the 18th century onwards, you could have found yourself transported to the new found colony of Australia.

In 1399 Richard II seized the castle from the 2nd Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt after his death and claimed the castle in the name of the monarchy. When Henry IV ousted Richard in the same year, the castle became part of the Duchy of Lancaster where it has remained ever since.

Henry undertook a massive rebuilding program which saw the addition of a twin-towered gatehouse. The gatehouse consisted of two 20 metre high towers consisting of several floors with the top two being dived into a number of rooms. A WellTower(which became know as the Witch�s Tower) was built during the 14th century and consisted of two deep wells and several underground dungeons. These dungeons went on to house people accused of witchcraft prior to their trial at LancasterCastleduring the reign of King James I in the 16th century.

In 1585, ElizabethI rebuilt the upper storey of the 12th century Keep.

Extensive modifications were undertaken during the 18th century, converting the castle into a prison. The use of which, has lasted for over 3 centuries. Separate complexes were built for female and male prisoners as well as a Wardens house. This wide-ranging refurbishment program began in 1788 with the warden�s house and cumulated in the prison for male inmates in 1796.

The rooms of the gatehouse were converted in to prison cells which were used to house debtors. These rooms were quite comfortable and reserved for those debtors who were able to lay their hands on a little money, enabling them to live a comfortable life compared to others in the same predicament. Prior to that they were probably used and maintained by the Castles Constable.

This was not the first time the castle was used to house prisoners. A Reference to prisoners being held at the castle dates back to 1196.

The last major build program undertaken at Lancaster Castle was in 1821 when a new female prison was built to the design of Joseph Gandy who had been trained by James Wyatt and had worked for John Nash.

In Pt2 we will find out about the infamous witch trials of 1612 and how you could have been transported to Australiaduring the later half of the 18th Century. You will learn about her Royal visitors and debtors prison.

I hope you have enjoyed this read and I look forward to your visit in Part 2.

Best Wishes

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com

A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves

2005 www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com- All rights reserved.

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During her long and illustrious 900 years, The Tower of London has developed into one of the most haunted places in Britain. She has been home to beheadings and murders, torture and hangings, as well as being a prison to Queens and Nobles alike.

Thomas A. Becket is \”the first reported sighting of a ghost at the Tower of London.\”

During the construction on the Inner Curtain Wall in the 13th century, Thomas appeared apparently unhappy about the construction, and it is said he reduced the wall to rubble with a strike of his cross. Henry III�s grandfather was responsible for the death of Thomas Becket, so Henry III wasted no time building a chapel in the Tower of London, naming it for the archbishop.

This must have pleased Thomas� ghost because there were no further interruptions during the construction of the wall.

(more…)

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One story tells of Herne, as one of the Royal keepers for King Richard II (1367-1400), who was hated by the other keepers for his extraordinary skills. One day the King was in danger of being trampled by an incensed stag while hunting and how Herne putting himself between the King and the stag was mortally wounded.

In the last 250 years, hundreds of people have claimed to have seen his spirit, often accompanied by his pack of hounds. In the early 1860’s the tree from which he was found hanging, was cut down, and Queen Victoria kept the oak logs for her fire “To help kill the ghost”. Her plan didn’t work however.

Other legends tell of witchcraft and suicide, and a demonic horned being upon whose appearance brings illness and misfortune to all who see him, especially the Royal family. He can be seen in Windsor castle’s gardens with “his trademark stag’s head.” King Henry VIII has been seen walking the hallways of Windsor Castle. His footsteps, along with agonizing moans, have been heard by many guests of the castle.

One of his wives, Anne Boleyn, has been seen standing at the window in the Dean’s Cloister, as well as, Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I has also been seen in the Royal Library. She has been seen walking from one room to another. She is always dressed in a black gown with a black lace shawl draped over her shoulders.

King Charles I has been seen many times in the library and the Canon’s house, and although he was beheaded during the English Revolution, his ghost is seen as a whole. It is said he looks exactly like his portraits.

King George III had many bouts with mental deterioration. During these times he was kept out of the public’s eye. He can be seen looking out the windows located below the Royal Library where he was confined during the recurrence of his illness.

The first Duke of Buckingham, Sir George Villiers, is said to haunt one of the bedrooms of Windsor castle. And many spirits haunt the Long Walk, one of whom is a young solider who shot himself after, while on his guard watch, saw marble statues moving “of their own accord.” His ghost has seen by other soldiers on guard duty afterwards.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and I look forward to your company again in the not to distant future.

Best wishes and have a great day

Stuart Bazga
www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com

A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves.

You may copy or redistribute this article in its entirety including all links.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Bazga

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Even more spectacular is the view from the castle itself with the ominous basalt plug of the Bass Rock immediately opposite and the Isle of May just the other side of the Firth of Forth. Tantallon is quite simply an astonishing castle.

With a history dating back to 1358, Tantallon castle has seen it’s fair share of history, from the Douglasses through to Cromwell. Beseiged on a number of occasions, the most notable seiges being in 1491, 1528 and when Oliver Cromwell besieged the castle in 1651. Cromwell undertook a twelve day siege which although it resulted in the defeat of the castles defenders, it was notable that they were granted mercy on account of their bravery.

Nowadays, Tantallon occupies a less bloody, if no less windswept place in the hearts of Scottish Castle enthusiasts. Having been allowed to deteriorate under successive owners from the 18^th century, Sir Hew Clifford Hamilton-Dalrymple handed over the castle to the Scottish nation in the early 20^th century and it is now in the care of Historic Scotland where it treated with the dignity and respect it deserves.

Visitors will find the castle just east of North Berwick, near the small town of Whitekirk. The castle really is a spectacular place to visit for an ideal Sunday afternoon out with the family and it’s close proximity to Edinburgh means that if one is feeling particularly ‘Castle-ish’ then you could combine the trip with a visit to the equally spectacular Edinburgh Castle and nearby Dirleton Castle as well.

Tantallon Castle is one of East Lothians true gems. The spectacular view from the battlements is worth the entrance fee alone. Superb.

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Sadly for much of the early part of the 20th century, there followed a period of decline, as the great estates struggled to maintain their noble homes and were either broken up or fell into disrepair. Fortunately by the eighties a new renaissance was emerging and this combined with greater prosperity led to a period of recovery & rebirth for a lot of these wonderful homes. It took a while for some of the older families to raise the huge sums required to restore their crumbling homes but it was slowly achieved, often with some aid from government bodies. Newcomers with deeper pockets were able to achieve results quicker and now it is all the rage to own and restore a huge pile.

Throughout the country, homes that twenty years ago you could hardly give away are now selling for millions. Add on to this the huge refurbishment cost and indeed the massive upkeep costs and you have an expensive ’second’ or in many cases ‘third’ home! However demand has never been higher and finding suitable properties is now extremely hard. Of course, anyone can stay in a luxury hotel, charter a huge yacht but not everyone can hire a 500 year old castle, surrounded by several thousand acres and boasting private shooting, fishing and total seclusion. Throw in a few battlements, ghosts and old family retainers and you have the makings of a movie set.

Obviously most of these homes are deserted during the winter months but come summer and private jets are plopping down in every small airport throughout the country. A few gleaming range rovers will be on hand to whisk up the guests and within an hour or two, everyone will be lying on the heather with a wee dram in one hand and a smoke salmon sandwich in the other. It’s intoxicating stuff for urban types and there is no danger of some annoying Russian screaming past in his Ferrari or some helicopter buzzing overhead. Of course, guests can easily get bored, so some form of ‘retail therapy’ is vital and the local cashmere outlets are happy to help out.

Grouse shooting and salmon fishing once the preserve of the upper classes is now being enjoyed by clientele of all stripes and in any case new owners of large piles are quick to don their tweed suits and present themselves as lairds of long standing. This is perfectly natural and has been witnessed by the locals for centuries. What is wonderful for Scotland is the huge amounts of money poured into the local economy by these ‘Chelsea’ Highlanders. They head north and not only help preserve these old homes but through a multitude of suppliers, they keep a lot of shops and other companies busy, as well as employing a lot of local people to help look after the properties themselves.

Absentee landlords are often much criticised but in fact they are essential and need to be encouraged. They pump funds into rural and often poor parts of the country and take on properties that are not financially viable at all. They are of course ‘living a dream’ but life is all about fulfilling ones dreams and if wealthy folk from all over the world find romance and happiness in maintaining a little bit of our heritage, well then we should encourage them. It is a great era for Scotland’s ancestral houses & castles and it’s wonderful to see.

About the author:

Andrew Loyd is a director of Loyd & Townsend-Rose Ltd, who specialize in Scottish castles for hire - ideal for luxury vacations, family reunions, corporate events, or as venues for filming and sporting activities.

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Explore more than 10 acres of wonderful gardens in the process of restoration at Easton Walled Gardens - with a cottage garden, turf maze and auricular theatre all new for 2006. Relax in the enchanting mix of formal gardens and semi-wild woodland at Grimsthorpe Castle or in the magical Duchess’s Spring Garden at Belvoir Castle where woodland gardens nestle in a natural amphitheatre.

If rare and unusual plants are your interest you can buy them at Barnsdale Gardens, and at the same time explore the fascinating gardens created for television by the late Geoff Hamilton. Or if a more relaxed lakeside walk is your style than visit Belton House or Burghley - and at Burghley you can also explore the 15 acre Sculpture Park created in the previously lost lower garden created by Capability Brown.

For a fascinating insight in how a formal garden is being transformed see the Gardens of Rockingham Castle. At Rockingham series of new radial yew hedges will provide opportunities for vistas and walkways connecting with the 19th Century Rose Garden.

Work in progress at Rockingham on a series of garden ‘rooms’ designed to contain deep borders of stunning herbaceous andshrub planting, with each room being given a different character.

All the houses and gardens of Hidden England are now open for the Summer Season.

For times and admission costs please visit the Hidden England website. We look forward to seeing you. It’s the perfect time to visit the Gardens of Hidden England.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stephen

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The castle dates back to the 12th century and has been continuously owned by earls. It has a turbulent history and its spooky reputation has brought it to the attention of TV programmes exploring the world of the paranormal.

The castle has several ghosts in residence. The most famous being the ‘blue boy’ who upon the stroke of midnight is heard to cry out and moan in agony. The pathetic wailing has been traced to a secret passage in the castle cut through a ten foot thick wall.

It is said that when the cries of the distressed spirit eventually die down, a soft halo of light appears over a nearby four poster bed. Anybody brave enough to sleep there may catch sight of a sad faced young boy dressed all in blue surrounded by ethereal light. At some stage in the castle’s history the entombed remains of a young boy and fragments of blue clothing were discovered behind a wall in the castle. Indicating that he was perhaps the victim of a foul deed!

Another ghostly regular at the castle is ‘Lady Mary Berkely, who is said to be eternally searching for her husband, who had indulged in an hot blooded affair with her sister and eventually ran off with her. Lady Mary, desolate and broken hearted lived on in the castle alone with her young daughter. But in spirit she searches the corridors of the castle for her wayward husband!. The soft rustle of her dress can be heard as she passes visitors on the turret stairs.

These two ghosts are just two of the most sighted but there are others waiting to send shivers down your spine if you are brave enough to visit the castle, especially during the hours of darkness!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

LINDA PRESTON WORKS AS A PROFESSIONAL PSYCHIC & WRITER OF PARANORMAL ARTICLES. HER WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED POSITIVELY IN NATIONAL MAGAZINES. SHE CAN BE CONTACTED VIA HER WEBSITE AT http://www.psychicreadingsbylinda.co.uk

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Very few cities in the world can lay claim to such a dramatic backdrop and it is always a surprise to Edinburgh residents exactly how underused this dramatic and majestic setting is. Alex Arthur, the famous Edinburgh boxer has more than once indicated his desire to fight a world championship fight on the castle esplanade. It would certainly be an emotional place for any Scotsman or woman at the pinnacle of their sport. Add a lone piper on the castle’s battlements, for many years now a mainstay of the Edinburgh Tattoo, and I daresay you wouldn’t be able to fight due to the tears in your eyes.

Edinburgh Castle though is more than a monument. It is a living breathing castle. A citadel within a city, complete with streets, places of worship and administrative offices. Every day at 1pm, the one o’clock gun startles hundreds of shoppers in nearby Princes Street with a loud blast and an elaborately faked scene on Calton Hill where a large ball falls from the top of Nelson’s monument as if blown off by the castle’s Howitzer.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Edinburgh Castle, for residents and tourists alike are Scotland’s crown jewels. Held under guard in the heart of the Castle, these are the symbol of Scotland’s nationhood. From the beauty of the sceptre to the downright magnificence of the Stone of Destiny, it is hard for any Scot not to feel a stirring of patriotism upon setting eyes on them, even though the stone is inextricably linked historically more to Scone than Edinburgh.

Whether you are a resident or a visitor, Edinburgh Castle has something for you. It’s beauty is absolute, it’s symbolism unchallenged. There was a day when it was a place of defence. Now it serves a more peaceful function. However, us Edinburgers can rest easily in the knowledge that if she is ever called on again she will do here duty again. And then some.

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The castle itself is steeped in history (see some background on Borthwick Castle) and provides a fantastic romantic setting for you to enjoy the best day of your life.

The staff at Borthwick Castle are all fully trained and very friendly and are there to make sure your special day is, well, special! Their discreet approach and fantastic service will make the whole day go smoothly and the many testimonials are testament to that.

Borthwick Castle is truly a magical venue and if you are looking to get married then you should come and stay there and see for yourself.

In addition to this, the castle is also said to be haunted - see a full investigation here.

Vicky and Tom are just one happy couple to have been married at Borthwick Castle.

Distilled Information providing information on a broad range of topics.

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