OFF THE BEATEN PATH


Tantallon Castle



Tantallon Castle is located in East Lothian near North Berwick, overlooking the Firth of Forth. It was built about 1350 for Douglas family of Angus. This powerful family had a close association with Robert the Bruce. William Douglas the builder of the castle became head of the family by murdering his godfather William of Liddesdale in Ettrick Forest – two names associated with the song Blue Bonnets Over the Border

“March! March! Ettrick and Tevot-dale,
Why my lads dinnaye march forward in order
March! March! Eskdale and Liddesdale!
All the blue bonnets are over the border”

James the IV besieged Tantallon in 1491, and James the V did likewise in 1528 doing considerable damage, and causing considerable reconstruction. Major parts of the castle were built in the 14th century and other parts in the 16th century. Since the castle is built on a promontory it is basically a single wall, cutting the promontory off from the main part of the land. A plan of Tantallon may be seen here

In 1651 during the third English Civil War Cromwell’s forces were attacked by a small group of royalists numbering less than 100 men. He sent several thousand troops who bombarded the castle for 12 days which left it in ruins. For those with a supernatural bent, the castle is reported to have a ghost. Today, the castle is in the hands of Historic Scotland and is open to the public (see below)

Tantallon Castle
North Berwick
East Lothian
EH39 5PN

By car take the A199 to A198 to Sea Cliff.

Opening arrangements

Summer
1 April - 30 September, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun, 9.30am to 5.30pm (last entry 5pm)
Winter
1 October - 31 March, Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Admission prices
All year
Adult £5.50, Child £3.30, Concession £4.40



Tantallon Castle – sign

Tantallon Castle – sign




approaching castle

approaching castle




outer gate showing openings through which one could fire

outer gate showing openings through which one could fire




outer gate showing more of wall

outer gate showing more of wall




view from wall or firth

view from wall or firth




castle showing damage – entrance at left

castle showing damage – entrance at left




Gun powder, treason and green stone; saving the fore tower sign

Gun powder, treason and green stone; saving the fore tower sign




damaged tower to the left

damaged tower to the left




greenstone front entrance

greenstone front entrance




sign for “The Bass Rock” – island off Tantallon

sign for “The Bass Rock” – island off Tantallon




the rock with castle (plus a light house)

the rock with castle (plus a light house)




the kitchen

the kitchen




view out to the firth

view out to the firth




pit prison

pit prison




sign for the great hall

sign for the great hall




Great Hall (fireplace)

Great Hall (fireplace)




end of great hall Fireplace at left

end of great hall Fireplace at left




view from top over great hall to Bass Rock

view from top over great hall to Bass Rock




xxxxxxxxxx

view from top = fortifications and pigeon “coop”




a reproduction of a 15th or 16th century wrought iron breech-loading gun, positioned in one of the castle's gun loops

a reproduction of a 15th or 16th century wrought iron breech-loading gun, positioned in one of the castle's gun loops




looking toward Great Hall building

looking toward Great Hall building




looking toward Great Hall building

looking toward Great Hall building




entry bridge – castle, wall with gunloop at entrance

entry bridge – castle, wall with gunloop at entrance











PAGE TWO     TABLE OF CONTENTS        PAGE FOUR