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Hailes Castle

Near East Linton, East Lothian
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Open all year round
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Discover the atmospheric ruins of a fortified manor dating back to the 1200s, linked with the Wars of Independence and with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Hailes Castle is hidden away in the pretty valley of the River Tyne. One of Scotland’s oldest stone castles, it dates from the early 1200s, with major extensions in the 1300s and 1400s.

It’s associated with the de Gourlay and the Hepburn noble families. Mary Queen of Scots’ third husband James Hepburn, 4th earl of Bothwell, may have been born in the castle. He fled into exile after Mary’s capture in 1567. The castle’s days as a stronghold ended with Cromwell’s invasion in 1650.

A weathered stone wall of Hailes Castle with a central arched doorway, standing on a grassy mound under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. A gravel path leads directly to the entrance.
Aerial view of Hailes Castle ruins showing thick stone walls and towers surrounded by green grass, with farmland and trees in the background.
Direct overhead aerial view of Hailes Castle ruins, highlighting stone walls, grassy interior spaces, and a river running alongside the site.
Ground-level view of Hailes Castle ruins with broken stone walls and arched openings, surrounded by green grass and framed by trees.

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