| Dirleton Castle , Dirleton EH39 5ER | |
| 01620850330 | |
| Dirleton Castle Website | |
| Follow histenvscot on Twitter | |
| Facebook information can be found here | |
In light of updated Scottish Government advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken the decision to close public access to our staffed properties and offices until further notice. All planned public events will also be postponed until further notice – full details of these can be found on our Events page in the coming days: historicenvironment.scot/whats-on.
This magnificent fortress–residence served three successive noble families over 400 years. Badly damaged in Cromwell’s 1650 siege, Dirleton’s fortunes were revived by its new owners in the 1660s.
The Nisbet family built a new mansion house nearby to live in and made the picturesque castle ruins the central feature in their new designed landscape. They also breathed new life into the splendid gardens, now home to the world’s longest herbaceous border.
What to see and do
Admire some of the oldest castle architecture surviving in Scotland – the de Vaux towers, built around 1240
See the grim pit prison, pretty chapel and cavernous storage vaults in the Haliburton range
Lose yourself in the enchanting gardens dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, which vie with the castle for attention
Seek out the dovecot – one of Scotland’s best-preserved pigeon houses, with more than 1,000 nesting boxes
Head off on a journey of discovery at this former airfield as you explore the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day
READ MOREDiscover 300 years of Scottish history through the magnificent and carefully conserved neo-Palladian villa that is Newhailes House and Gardens!
READ MOREStep inside Edinburgh's other castle, once a rural retreat from Scotland's capital!
READ MORECome and learn about the Scottish involvement in the British military from WW1 to the present day at the Military Museum Scotland!
READ MORETake a journey into the dark side of old Edinburgh's history touring the haunted underground vaults with Auld Reekie Tours!
READ MOREThe Tron Kirk, or Christ’s Kirk at the Tron, has stood in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town for almost 400 years.
READ MORECanongate Kirk is the parish church of Canongate in Edinburgh’s Old Town and a congregation of the Church of Scotland.
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history as you see, hear and errr smell Edinburgh’s murky past!
READ MORESurgeons' Hall Museums is home to one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the World, open to the public since 1832.
READ MOREWelcome to Greyfriars Kirk, a worshipping congregation of the Church of Scotland in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town where a church has stood since 1620.
READ MOREThe People's Story gives an unique insight in to Edinburgh's working class people from the 18th century to the late 20th century.
READ MOREPrinces Street Gardens lies at centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, within New Town and Old Town Outstanding Conservation Areas.
READ MORE