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Lochend Castle

The remains of Lochend Castle, formerly Restalrig Castle, are incorporated into the side of the 19th century Lochend House.

Lochend was part of the lands of South Leith granted by David I to a Norman knight named De Lestalric in 1128, and the De Lestalric family built at castle at some point in the years that followed. The position is a naturally defensive one, occupying a rocky outcrop above a small loch.

In 1382, upon the death of Sir John De Lestalric, the property passed to his daughter, Katherine, who had married Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig, and so it became a Logan property.

The castle is referred to as the “old tower” in 1495, but little information about it survives. At some point in the 16th century the old castle was replaced by, or incorporated into, a new castle, which had a vaulted basement. A doocot was built around the same time below the castle, just back from the edge of the loch. It is known that the doocot was built before 1560, as it appears on a map of the Siege of Leith in that year.

Lochend Castle

In 1573 another Sir Robert Logan was involved in holding Edinburgh Castle in the name of Mary Queen of Scots, which brought the Logans of Restalrig into conflict with the Establishment. In 1586 Lochend Castle was attacked and destroyed by the Provost of Edinburgh, William Little, as Logan wouldn’t allow the public to cross his land.

Logan ran into financial trouble, and was forced to sell off his estates. In 1596 he sold Nether Gogar to a relation, Andrew Logan of Coalfield. Involvement in the Gowrie Conspiracy of 1600 further exacerbated Logan’s problems, and Lochend Castle is said to have been burned at this time by William Gilmour of the Inch.

In 1602 he sold Fast Castle to Archibald Douglas, and in 1604 he split the barony of Restalrig and sold the Craigentinny part to James Nisbet and the remainder to James Elphinstone, the 1st Lord Balmerino.

Lord Balmerino fell from grace over letters sent to the Pope that he forged in the name of James VI. In 1608 the King granted many of Balmerino’s possessions, including Restalrig, Balmerino, Over Barnton, Ballumbie, Dunvegan and Lewis, to Alexander Drummond of Midhope.

Lochend Castle

Map of Midlothian
John Adair, c.1682map image courtesy of NLS

Restalrig, or Lochend Castle as it became know, returned to the Lords Balmerino as it was forfeited by Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerino, following his capture at Culloden fighting for the Jacobites. It then passed to Lord Murray, but in 1816 it was largely knocked down. Around 1820 a new house was built on the site, consisting of a two storey symmetrical villa.

Lochend Castle

Edinburghshire, Sheet 2, Six-inch 1st edition
Ordnance Survey, 1853map image courtesy of NLS

A portion of the south elevation of the old castle was incorporated into the west side of the new building, the side perched on the rocky crags and overlooking the loch, and interestingly an old fireplace and a corbel can still be seen projecting from it.

Lochend Castle

Lochend Castle

In the 1920s ownership of Lochend House passed from Lord Murray to Edinburgh Council, and it is now a children’s centre and nursery run by the City of Edinburgh Council.

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Alternative names for Lochend Castle

Lestalryk; Lochend House; Rastalrig; Restalrig Castle; Restalrige

Where is Lochend Castle?

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

Grid reference: NT 27735 74754

Lat / long: 55.96028, -3.159295

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

OS Map for Lochend Castle

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


Directions to Lochend Castle

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Weather at Lochend Castle

17°C
max 20°C / min 17°C
4km/h N
1010mb
86%
20%
03:26 21:02

Few clouds
Weather observed at Seafield at 20:44

References (books)

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 4
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1892
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Lochend Castle

Habb's Castle (possible) (site of)

0.8km away

Craigentinny Castle

0.8km away

Croft an Righ

1.0km away

Holyroodhouse

1.2km away

Pilrig House

1.7km away

Dingwall Castle (site of)

1.9km away

Edinburgh Castle

2.9km away

Peffermill House

3.1km away

Inverleith (site of)

3.2km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Lochend Castle

Dunsapie fort

1.6km away

Arthur's Seat fort

1.9km away

Samson's Ribs fort

2.4km away

Edinburgh Castle fort

2.9km away

Buck Stane standing stone

6.4km away

Wester Craiglockhart Hill fort

6.8km away

Cat Stanes (site of) cairns

7.2km away

Caiy Stane standing stone and rock art

7.3km away

Camus Stone (site of) standing stone

7.3km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Lochend Castle

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

2.4km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

2.4km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

2.9km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

23.1km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

23.2km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

23.5km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

23.5km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

28.9km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

31.6km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Lochend Castle

Haddington silver chain

23.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

30.5km away

Whitlaw silver chain

34.7km away

Norrie's Law hoard

35.1km away

Borland silver chain

35.7km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

37.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

53.0km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

71.7km away

Dunnicaer fort

125.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Lochend Castle

Lochend Serviced Apartments
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
0.3km away
City Boutique Apartment
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
0.4km away
Atria 22 Boutique Apartment
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
0.4km away
Edinburgh's Grouse House
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.4km away
Apartment on the Park
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
0.7km away
Drumorne Guest House
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.9km away
Mackenzie Guest House
hotelEdinburgh
1.0km away
Merith House Hotel
hotelEdinburgh
1.0km away
Edinburgh Thistle Guest House
hotelEdinburgh
1.0km away
Park View House Hotel
hotelEdinburgh
1.1km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Lochend Castle

The Mash Tun
barEdinburgh
0.7km away
Café at the Palace
caféEdinburgh
1.3km away
Crowne Plaza Edinburgh - Royal Terrace
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
1.3km away
No. 11 Hotel & Brasserie
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
1.3km away
Central Bar
barEdinburgh
1.4km away
Gardener's Cottage
restaurant, caféEdinburgh
1.4km away
21212
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
1.4km away
Frankfurter Eck
restaurantEdinburgh
1.4km away
Edinburgh Central Hostel
hostel, restaurant, caféEdinburgh
1.5km away
Macdonald Holyrood
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
1.5km away
more food.... / more drink....

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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 22nd of October 2011 at 8:34 pm. Updated on the 9th of January 2021 at 6:26 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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