The furthest corner of Edzell Castle’s garden from the castle’s tower has a summer house built into it.

Summer house at corner of Edzell Castle’s garden walls:-

From inside garden:-

Close up from grounds:-

From beside west wall:-

The box hedging in the garden of Edzell Castle was famous for its intricate topiarised Latin inscriptions but has suffered box blight and is no longer as magnificent as below:-

Window onto garden:-

Garden information board:-

Garden from Tower:-

Garden + tower:-

Garden topiary + box hedging:-

Tower from garden:-

The interior of Edzell Castle is like many such ruined former grand buildings in Scotland – open to the sky, bare floors, sandstone walls.

Internal doorway:-

Staircase:-

Fireplace:-

Arch from a collapsed oven. That was some size of oven:-

We had meant to visit Edzell Castle, which lies just north-west of Brechin in Angus, for some time now. It is famous for its walled garden with box hedging arrangement. Last August we managed to book a visiting slot. The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland. The present castle is on a site somewhat removed from the old motte and bailey castle.

Edzell Castle from motte and bailey site:-

From the castle grounds:-

A corner tower:-

Entrance and square tower:-

Doorway:-

Castle entrance from east:-

Castle tower from southwest:-

Part of castle with walled garden to left:-

The mound of the old motte and bailey Castle is easily seen from the south wall:-

In july we visited a plant nursery in East Lothian. Right beside it were the remains of Redhouse Castle. Now derelict and not open to the public, it lies just off the B1377 after passing through Longniddry when travelling east.

Redhouse Castle from plant nursery:-

There’s a small gap through from the garden centre to the castle grounds.

Doorway. The lintel reads “Nil Dominus Frustrare” (Nothing will disappoint):-

Then through an arch to the outbuildings:-

Castle from east:-

Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale, County Durham. It lies beside the River Tees over which there were at least two bridges.

One of these is a relatively narrow traffic-light controlled bridge which lies just below the ruins of the mediæval castle (of which more later.)

The second I got to by walking along a path by the riverside. Its purpose is more obscure:-

On the way up to it we passed this weir:-

Weir and second bridge through trees:-

I posted about the exterior of Doune Castle here.

Great Hall:-

There was also a slightly smaller hall.

Furniture and fireplace:-

Plaque:-

Staircase (to left in fireplace photo above):-

Doune Castle is in Doune, Stirlingshire. It has been used for filming Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander.

We visit Doune quite a lot as it has an antique centre near by. One day we took the opportunity to have a look at the castle.

From access road:-

From approach path:-

Oncea again a building was shrouded in scaffolding when we visited:-

It’s possible to walk right round the outside of the castle, though the path dips a bit:-

Castle courtyard:-

Waterfall by Dunnottar Castle from approach path:-

Cliffs to south from approach path:-

Rocks below Dunnottar Castle:-

Cliffs to north and sea inlet, from Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven War Memorial on hilltop:-

Stonehaven War Memorial on hill:-

After our visit to Dunnottar Castle we took a footpath which (eventually) leads to Stonehaven. This afforded more views of the northern cliffs:-

And of the Castle looking back:-

Northern cliffs again:-

Cistern in courtyard. This ensured the castle’s water supply:-

Cistern from upper floor of main building:-

Interior (with windows):-

Window seat:-

View from a window:-

Sundial and Lintel:-

Sundial and coat of arms information board:-

Fireplace. Inscribed, “In commemoration of the defence of the honours of Scotland Sep 1651 – Aug 1652 by George Ogilvy of Barras, Governor of Dunnottar and of the help given by his wife Elizabeth Douglas and her kinswoman Anne Lindsay.” Scroll down for the story.

Part of Restored Ceiling (Regi et Regno):-

Restored ceiling (In Defens):-