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Colinton Castle

Colinton Castle was built in the 16th century as an L-plan tower house at least three storeys tall, and was home to the Foulis family. It was added to in the 17th century. In 1650 it was occupied by Cromwell’s troops and was burned by them.

Already in ruins, in the late 18th century the painter Alexander Nasmyth ordered the castle to be partly demolished further to create a more picturesque ruin.

In 2003 the south tower collapsed, and a programme of removal and recording of masonry was carried out.

Colinton Castle stands within the grounds of Merchiston Castle School. The school takes its name from Merchiston Castle where it was founded.

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Alternative names for Colinton Castle

Colingtoun; Colinton House; Merchiston Castle School

Where is Colinton Castle?

Colinton Castle is in the parish of Edinburgh and the county of Midlothian.

Grid reference: NT 21653 69337

Lat / long: 55.910775, -3.254786

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Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Colinton Castle

OS map 350
Edinburgh (Musselburgh & Queensferry)
OS Explorer map 350


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Directions to Colinton Castle

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Weather at Colinton Castle

20°C
max 20°C / min 18°C
24km/h SSW
1016mb
68%
40%
03:27 20:59

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Colinton at 16:53

References (books)

The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1593-1608
John Maitland Thomson
Edinburgh, 1890

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Colinton Castle

Redhall Castle (site of)

0.9km away

Dreghorn (site of)

1.4km away

Craiglockhart Castle

1.4km away

Stenhouse

2.1km away

Woodhall

2.2km away

Craig House

2.2km away

Meggetland (possible) (site of)

2.4km away

Old Comiston House

2.4km away

Kilbaberton Tower (site of)

2.6km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Colinton Castle

Wester Craiglockhart Hill fort

1.4km away

Caiy Stane standing stone and rock art

2.8km away

Buck Stane standing stone

2.8km away

Cat Stanes (site of) cairns

3.0km away

Camus Stone (site of) standing stone

3.2km away

Edinburgh Castle fort

5.4km away

Castle Law souterrain

5.6km away

Castle Law fort

5.6km away

Samson's Ribs fort

6.6km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Colinton Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

5.4km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

5.7km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

5.7km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

30.3km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

30.4km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

30.7km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

30.8km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

35.4km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

36.4km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Colinton Castle

Borland silver chain

27.8km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

29.6km away

Haddington silver chain

30.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

35.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

37.0km away

Norrie's Law hoard

42.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

57.7km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

63.7km away

Dunnicaer fort

133.4km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Colinton Castle

Alvar House
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.7km away
Ture Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.8km away
Best Western Braid Hills Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.7km away
15 Merchiston Gardens Bed & Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
3.0km away
Royal Ettrick Hotel
hotelEdinburgh
3.4km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
3.5km away
Dalmore Lodge Guest House
hotelEdinburgh
3.6km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.6km away
Murrayfield Apartment
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
3.8km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
3.8km away

Accommodation search

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bed and breakfasts
campsites
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holiday parks
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self-catering cottages
self-catering lodges
spas
more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Colinton Castle

Best Western Braid Hills Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.7km away
The Waiting Room
barEdinburgh
3.2km away
Morningside Glory
barEdinburgh
3.2km away
Merlin
barEdinburgh
3.5km away
Caley Sample Room
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.5km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
3.5km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.6km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
hotel, restaurant, café, barEdinburgh
3.8km away
Hampton Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
4.0km away
Montpeliers Bar & Brasserie
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
4.0km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 1:57 pm. Updated on the 6th of June 2025 at 5:30 pm.

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About

Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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