One of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen, in what I believe is the most beautiful country in the world. Tantallon is a castle ruins on the coast outside of North Berwick, looking out into the ocean from the cliff edge. Views from the top in 360 show the countryside with little white cottages distant, and then also the open sea, with a giant rock that has a white lighthouse you can see with sharp eyes, but that may not turn up in your photos without a good camera. There was an Actual Photographer taking photos while we were here. But. I say, good luck taking a bad photo even if you have no picture taking skill whatsoever. I have ? maybe a little, and I would just suggest having a handle on your low lighting settings if you want to get anything good inside because it is dark. There's nothing I can say here that will do it justice. I fell in love with Tantallon (tan-talon) based on a picture. My friend sent me a website with some things to do in her neck of the woods (imagine this being in your neck of the woods, what is life), and this was easily the first place I was drawn to. And as with everything you see of Scotland in media, pictures or film does not do it justice. Not only did I get to look at it this month, but I got to thoroughly explore it! So first thing, make sure if you're going to be seeing at least two castles or abbeys in the Scottish Borders that you purchase an Explorer Pass for around 46 pounds (I think this was 58 dollars americano). It will pay for itself. Many of the famous landmarks are included on the pass, and you won't have to pay entrance fees if you have your pass. Next important thing, please be careful climbing around inside the castle. Use the ropes provided, brace yourself on the walls, go slow, don't be faffing about with your camera phone (I was NOT, Mom). I was wearing my most serious pair of hiking boots with monster grip and I still slipped and fell on my butt in the dungeon. If you're afraid of heights or claustrophobic like me, it may also be a challenge, but it is worth it. So worth it. Once you realize it's a ruin and there's so much missing from what once was, you may think there's not much to actually explore inside but that's not true. There's towers to climb, ramparts to walk, a spooky fern-filled well (it reminded me of the tunnel or tower? from the book Annihilation, shivers) that you can give yourself vertigo leaning too far into to try and see the bottom, and low places in which to descend, such as the dungeon, but fair warning, it is slippery, it is tight quarters and it is SPOOKY. As it should be. Imagine what horrors awaited people down there... Ok, time to wrap up. Basically, it's gorgeous, please come see it and enjoy the sea air and sit on one of the many benches to take it all in. The gift shop is lovely (I was close to buying an amethyst Celtic knot ring), and there is a bus here from North Berwick, which I highly recommend checking out as well, as it is beautiful and the thrifting is excellent. Of course, everyone is friendly too. That goes for the entire country. One final note, dress as warmly as possible as Tantallon is on the ocean and it is windy and COLD. I am telling you this as a warm blooded person who does not easily get cold. The castle will help buffer on one side, but the other side is completely unforgiving. This was the weather I came for. Proper weather. Possibly the most beautiful view from a castle I've ever seen, sorry Edinburgh and Stirling. read more

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Super cool castle ruins just three miles from North Berwick. Took the 120 bus and told the driver where I wanted to stop, but he still missed it and I did have to do a bit of walking back down the road. Most people arrived in rental cars, but I was trying to be adventurous. This is a castle ruin, and what remains are mostly outside walls and structures. You really have to imagine hard of what it would have been like in its heyday. But it sits along the water, so the views from the castle are stunning! The structure is still sound enough that you can climb to the second floor, where you get the best views. Plus it's just kind of cool to climb around in castle ruins. This was one of my favorite castles that I've visited in Scotland. Probably because it right on the water, and this castle is what I envision when I think of a Scottish castle. read more

The Red Douglas Stronghold near North Berwick! In my lifetime I have seen many ruins of past strongholds, but this one is the most exciting so far. Nobody lives there anymore. The walls tell a story of besiege, feasts, battle and royal connection. The Red Douglas were involved in intrigue and paid their price, but the castle itself was such an amazing and powerful stronghold that neither Cromwell's army nor the Scottish King himself was able to conquer the fortress in its prime time. Unfortunately the weather had it's toll on the exterior and the castle wasted away, leaving behind mystic and powerful ruins to admire. You stand on top of a tower, look out onto the sea and at the same time admire the wonderful views of the coastline and listen to the songs of the seagulls. Hear my song and cry for freedom, imprisoned only by the walls surrounding my existence........but hear, freedom is to come and it's never too late to hope..... It's a Historic Scotland property and therefore free entry for members, otherwise £5. read more

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I have never seen a more beautiful castle or view! Coming from America( where everything is fairly new), I feel very fortunate to have come to such a beautiful country to seek out my passion for history and getting to see this castle in person was overwhelming in the best way possible! We walked from North Berwick harbor which took us though a beautiful historic glen, asked some very nice hikers which way to turn and walked about two miles to this castle. Extremely worth it! Oh, also, the two men who were working at the site of the castle rocked! They made us feel welcomed and helped us get a taxi when heading back to the train station! Go seek out this adventure! read more

Of the many attractions in and around North Berwick, Tantallon Castle has got to be one of the best. Sitting opposite the famous Bass rock and right by the sea cliff, Tantallon is a romantic ruin situated on a beautiful location. Tantallon is a great fortress castle. It was built in the middle of the 14th century by the Douglas Earls of Angus, and it saw particular action under the early Stuart reign. It is also famous for being lay siege to by Oliver Cromwell. Tantallon is easy enough to get to. With regular bus and trains from Edinburgh to North Berwick then a quick bus outside of town to the castle, or alternatively a wee walk. The castle is now a ruin but it is still well wort the visit. It's collapsed walls are still intact enough to show what a strong and daunting fortress it once was. It is sometimes called "Scotland's last great medieval castle". When I first visited the bus to North Berwick was late and then I ended up walking from the station to the castle. In the end by the time I got there it had just closed. However the staff still let me in to have a quick look around. Needless to say they are all very friendly! A final word of warning! Tantallon is the site of two famous ghost spot tings, one in the 70s and one a few years ago supposedly capturing a figure with a ruff collar. Google it if you don't believe me! read more

On a rocky outcrop this castle is a fantastic reminder of how it must have been to live in the days when there was nothing around and this was the only defense from mauraders. It is chilly and bleak and a vast ruin. You can still get the sense of how great it was by the thickness of the walls. This was the second dovecote of the day we saw lookiing around castles and I preferred this one There are rooms to look around and you can climb up some of the towers but there is not as much there as other nearby castle, this castle would be great to take a picnic to on a warm day and watch the sea crash agaisnt the rocks. The toilets are at the visitors centre which has a shop which sells catupult kits to make. read more

Tantallon is one of those places that just stays in your mind. I've lost count how many times I have visited and walked those ramparts. The location just blows your mind. If you don't believe me, just walk up to the top and just stop. Stop and just take everything in. In a few seconds, things will start to happen. The wind will be blowing through your hair and it's sound will start to overtake any chatter of tourists around you. Just below you, you will start to see dozens of birds swooping and spinning through the air as they visit their roosts in the walls of Tantallon. In the distance, the sky will be white around the Bass Rock, as thousands of birds gather to nest and feed. You'll see activity out on the sea in front of you. The greenness of the grass will astound you. The history captured in a collapsing remains of a medieval castle will become more apparent. Tantallon will take root in your soul. Last night we visited, again. This time it was part of the Lammermuir Music Festival, or 'Beautiful Music in Beautiful Places'. This was the showpiece, with giant spotlights flashing through a clear star-filled night, animation playing against the walls of Tantallon, music and poetry filling the air. It got to me, it really did. Anyone who visits Edinburgh, or the East Coast, should count this as one of the places to see - a little out of the way, granted, but what you get in return will reward the journey taken. read more

Tantallon castles is a superb example of what Scotland has to offer in the way of heritage. It is a stunning place to visit with scenery to die for. read more

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Day 6 was populated almost entirely by Tantallon castle, one of the strangest fortifications in all of Scotland. Mark my words now, at some point in my writing--my fiction writing--I will have a castle like Tantallon featured. Not any shape you're accustomed with castles, Tantallon is comprised of single great wall acting as a defensive structure protecting the land behind it. It's what's called a promontory fort because, well, it guards a promontory--that is, an outcropping of land from a cliff wall. This is different from places like Stirling or Edinburgh which simply occupy a crag. What need is there to erect a wall fringing a cliff looking out over the sea? There aren't many of these in the world, making Tantallon a unique artifact. It can also be called a curtain wall castle. Where a curtain wall usually surrounds a castle, here the curtain wall IS the castle. Just make a huge wall a dozen feet thick and construct the rooms within it. The great hall was set aside, in the only wall not facing the countryside. Received guests wouldn't enter through the gate and waltz straight to the lord; they'd have to take a left and then climb some stairs, followed by right. The poor condition of Tantallon comes from the fact that it's been involved in various wars over the course of six hundred years. As for the specifics of the day, my girlfriend and her family (not awkward) took us out of Edinburgh to Tantallon castle on the only day the clouds decided to spit...but only spit. While at Tantallon, water didn't fall with enough volume to even warrant opening my umbrella. It was also November. Add both of those facts together and my girlfriend and I ended up being the only ones at the castle. And I do mean only, we couldn't even find an employee, only a note claiming the solitary custodian was working the grounds. We never found him or her, and we hung around for a while, exploring every room. Tantallon was rumored to be haunted...maybe the ghost was the employee? So wait, you're thinking, you and your girlfriend were alone in a castle...all by yourself? Could that have been any more romantic? Well, yes, we could and should have packed a lunch. If her parents weren't waiting in a car, we should have sat on a bench looking out to Bass Rock for an hour while sharing a glass of red wine. This is a picnic waiting to happen. Alas, after an hour, we left, but not before taking numerous photos of this desolate and abandoned fortress. And no...there was no ghost. read more

Good fun for both me and That Boy who both love exploring castles. There was a fee for entry but it wasn't expensive for what you got. There are cold drinks available on site but you'd need to bring a pack up or head for North Berwick for lunch. Small children might struggle with the steps (a lot of them are unlevel or worn). I think there are more events and activities on offer during the summer so your entry fee would go further then. The team in the shop were lovely and welcoming and we did stand and chat for a few minutes. read more