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 14^th century and other parts in the 16^th 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