rosslyn castle

Looking at other reviews some seem to be about the castle ruins and others about the holiday accommodation managed by the Landmark Trust.This is a review of the castle ruins, not of the holiday accommodation.As far as we could see only the ruins of the old gatehouse are accessible (free of charge), as the rest of the site is private, being managed by the Landmark Trust as holiday accommodation. However, the approach to the gatehouse ruins, over a bridge across the steeply-sided valley, is fairly impressive.It is well worth the few minutes' walk to visit the castle if you are visiting Rosslyn Chapel, but there isn't enough to justify a long diversion just to see it.

Before paying the entrance fee, I was once wondering if it is worth to pay £9 for such a tiny chapel. However, after the 2-hour visit, my answer is simply YES. The chapel is full of interesting sculptures which requires your curiosity to find. Don't miss the story-telling tour, in which visitors get seated and listen to the mysterious history of Rosslyn Chapel for around 20 minutes.Be sure you check the visiting hours when you plan to get there. No visit is allowed until 12pm on Sundays. That's the situation we faced and we spent 2 hours walking around to wait for its opening.

Yes it is a ruin but lovely to look around and free. The surrounding trees are lovely and beginning to change colour. The kids enjoyed running around and playing in the stream down below it. I think the house is a guest house would be a cool place to stay. Worth a look around if you have the time.

I don't know if we missed something but we walked down and just saw a pile of bricks surrounded by scaffolding! The views and grounds surrounding this were lovely though so I would recommended the walk down. However this is probably not wheelchair friendly due to the steep hill back up and cobbles.

We stayed at the castle for three nights, and really enjoyed our stay. Once we finally figured out how to open the door, (and got the car across the bridge without incident), it was amazing exploring all the rooms in the castle. After going through all the rooms upstairs and down, we finally realised why we couldn't find a shower. It is behind a bolted door, at the top of the dark and cold stairs to the lower levels of the castle (or as we called them, the dungeons). The sitting room and dining rooms are beautifully decorated, and it was nice to look at all the things belonging to the Sinclair family. The kitchen was great, and well equipped, with the door opening onto the secret garden (or great hall ruins).Having a shower was interesting to say the least. From the hilarious comments in the guest book (which was a highlight of our tv and wifi-less nights!), not many people brave it, but once you get past the fact that it is at the top of the dark, cold stairs, there is nowhere to put anything down, and there are spiders and webs all above your head, the shower was good. Don't be scared off! I do wish there was a shower in the upstairs bathroom though!One thing that concerned us was that you could only get in to the castle via the main front door, which was difficult to open and lock when not used to it. We felt safer knowing the door was bolted whilst we were inside (as there were people wandering around regularly outside), but if there was an emergency and we had to get out quickly, I don't know how that would have worked!I would say that we didn't find it a comfortable place to stay, but it was definitely an experience we won't forget! The castle certainly had a presence about it, and we had the feeling we were being watched. The jackdaws in the glen (and the dungeon) were also a bit spooky, but the rabbits that congregated around the castle were gorgeous! And don't bother with the Da Vinci Code board game! Has anyone figured this game out? Will remember our stay here forever!

There's not much left of the once grand castle (a rendering was seen at the Rosslyn Chapel visitor center) & you'll need to book a night to stay inside the guesthouse. However, we roamed the outside grounds by the bridge & the area under the bridge (didn't enter the guesthouse complex as there were guests staying there).From Roslin Glen / Forest, we were able to visit the castle & view it from its lowest floors (under the bridge). There were still several floors left & several windows from its "dungeons." Although the area was quiet & we were able to take some pictures from there, the area certainly was creepy & one had a sense that nasty things may have happened here in the past. As it turned out later (when we visited the Rosslyn Chapel), we learned that there was some bloodshed in its past.I'm not sure about staying there a night but roaming the outside of the compound was fun enough.

Could not get in but is a story book castle! Kids loved running around the building. Excellent family day and for free!!

We stayed at the castle for three nights in our first holiday to Scotland and the UK this month. It was fantastic property, the remains of a historic castle. The building was comfortably furnished, close to the historic (and popular tourist site) Rosslyn Chapel and the town of Rosslin. We enjoyed very much walking the grounds, relaxing in the beautiful drawing room and having tea in the 'secret garden' off the kitchen. For those brave of heart, there are many (now long unused) lower levels to be explored, starting with what was obviously once a working kitchen...we made it three levels down into the 'dungeons'...how far will you go? :0)

Loved having our own castle for a few nights...worth every penny. Beautiful walking paths and a magical secret garden to explore. Make sure to stock up on supplies before you get to the castle though, local store is not well stocked. The Original Roslin Hotel is very close if you're needing a good pub or meal break while at the Castle. Landmark Trust is doing an amazing job, we look forward to exploring more of the Landmarks in the years ahead.

This was one of our (mostly) annual trips to one of the many Landmark Trust properties in the UK. The trust rescues and restores interesting properties and finances this by leasing them as holiday lets. We have never been disappointed by their properties yet and Rosslyn Castle was no exception. I would recommend the castle for an interesting and relaxing break.The property IS NOT accessible for the casual sightseer with only the ruins of the gatehouse available to view.It is comfortable and quite homely for such an imposing interior, and is furnished appropriately for the property. There was good heating in all of the rooms (apart from the large sitting room which had an open fire with night storage heaters but there were also plenty of additional portable heaters should you need them).There is a lot to see in the house with many portraits and displays relating to the Sinclair family.The kitchen is a very narrow galley with little room to pass if there are two of you working there (but that just added to the fun rather than causing problems). The kitchen is well equipped with cookware and equipment (only lacking a dishwasher and microwave).The bedrooms are comfortable rather than lavishly appointed but again, this is in keeping with the feel of the property.Access is not straightforward with a steep unmade road and a narrow bridge with a tight turn but we made it comfortably in my wife's (quite low slung) Astra.The best part was the hidden garden which can only be accessed from inside the house via the kitchen. This was a beautiful private sun trap and we (my wife and I with our dog) spent hours just sitting reading in the sun.There is no wi-fi and poor mobile phone reception so be aware. I found that isolation blissful but it may not be to everyone's taste.

We didn't know whether there was anything at the end of the road when we started walking towards the castle, it was sort of like hiking going through trees and a graveyard which was like an adventure for us. When we eventually reached the end and found the castle we realised there was just a wall standing but nevertheless it was nice, we took a few pictures. However there wasn't anyone around so I just wonder if any accident happens, if someone falls or something it would be very hard to get help!

There isn't an awful lot left there to see. Steep, muddy walk up from the park. Must've been imposing in it's day!

We stayed for 4 nights in the castle from 10/2/14 and had possibly the most memorable holiday ever. The castle was well presented upon arrival with a small welcome pack and fresh flowers. The housekeeper had organised for logs to be delivered. We managed to get our Mercedes ML across the bridge, but it was a bit stressful as it is narrow with a bend. We decided to park in front of the gates and reverse back up the track. The castle has stunning original features from 1622, lots of Sinclair family information and portraits and some pretty serious masonic displays, which one of our party loved. The dining room does not have heating and was a bit cold otherwise the castle was warm enough despite us having snow. Well equipped kitchen, if a bit small. The Landmark trust do not put "modern" conveniences like televisions, dishwashers and microwaves in the properties. In my eyes this enhances the feeling of history and the opportunity to switch off from modern life.Lovely setting high over a river, with some nice views.The shower at the entrance to the basement amused us, thankfully there is a bath in the main bathroom.The castle is nicely furnished, in keeping with the property type. Don't expect 5 star facilities and furnishings. But its very well equipped, comfortable, superbly clean, with a homely feeling but most of all an experience will remember fondly forever.Thanks for sharing this wonderful place!

Its a fascinating red sandstone ruin and although there is not a great deal left there are a few clues as to what it used to look like. The remains of a tower wreathed in ivy and various arches indicate a grand entrance. If you like old castles, history and ruins this is a must see and its free.

We have stayed at several Landmark Trust properties but wanted to do something really special for our twentieth wedding anniversary. Rosslyn Castle did not disappoint. It is true that getting the car across the bridge (in both directions) was two of the most stressful experiences of my life. But, we managed it without a divorce and without damage to the car. But you really do have no more than an inch's clearance either side. If you have anything bigger than an X3 or a Q5 park at the Chapel - you will not get across the bridge and you will not be able to turn around. So, you better be the best reverser in the world or you are S-T-U-C-K!!The castle is mostly a ruin thanks to General Monk in the Civil War and what remains looks innocuous and cottage-like from ground level. But, upon entry you are immersed into a gothic, oak-panelled, tapestry-bedecked piece of history, myth and legend and welcomed into the home of one of the most amazing and intriguing families and lineage in Scotland, the UK and the world. Thank you to the Sinclairs (St. Clair) for sharing their ancestral home and the many personal photos, paintings and memorabilia which grace this graceful home. A home which extends to four levels beneath the ground, extending down the mountain. A fortress worthy of a secretTo stay here is to experience history - a history linked to the discovery of the New World, the Holy Grail, the Knights Templar, the Da Vinci Code and the truth about Christianity. Upon returning home we re watched the Da Vinci Code. The film does not spend enough time at the Chapel nor the amazing St Clair family. And, Hollywood is "creative" with the scenes beneath the Chapel. But, the final scenes are filmed at the Castle and on that bridge. How they got all of those cars across I will never know.It is a comfortable place to stay (it sleeps 7) and don't believe what you might read about the shower - it is perfectly fine.Thank you Sinclairs. Thank you Landmark. This will be a difficult experience to trump.