One of Scotland's best preserved historic buildings, Craigmillar Castle was a handsome noble seat, suitably distant from the political cauldron of Edinburgh. Its comforts, and its secluded location within easy reach of the capital, explain why it became a favoured royal retreat, most notably for Mary Queen of Scots.
For its first 250 years, the castle served as a fortified residence for the Prestons, a prominent Edinburgh family in late-medieval times. Following the purchase of the estate in 1660 by Sir John Gilmour, a leading Edinburgh lawyer, new life was breathed into the ageing castle.
But during the 1700s, the Gilmours forsook their medieval home for a more modern residence nearby. Craigmillar Castle soon became a romantic ruin on the southern outskirts of the fast-expanding city.