Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle
tour requirements.
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
to discuss your tour requirements
Learning questions
which our First Level
Castles tour can answer
“What design features did castles have
and why?”
At Craigmillar Castle, we’ll go right up and touch the castle walls.
It’s an awe-inspiring (and scary) sight to look up and into the gaps
in the defences towering above us! These gaps were used to
shower down some nasty things onto any attacking armies.
We’ll continue our look at the soldiers and weapons used at this
stage of the attack, and we’ll use this to highlight some of the
features which castle defenders would have used against us. We
deal with these ideas with ‘First Level’ appropriateness!
“How would someone attack a castle?”
Your guide will use laminated ‘Lego’ weapons to investigate the
different types of weapons used when attacking a castle. We use
‘Lego’ pictures because we’ve found they really strike a chord with
our younger guests!
Once we’ve learned how to classify weapon types, we’ll move
closer to the external castle walls. Pupils will work with partners,
and they’ll use laminated images of different soldier types to
choose which troops they’d use if they were an attacking general.
It’s an excellent opportunity for discussion!
“What makes a Castle different from
other buildings?”
Your castle exploration starts before we even enter the castle!
We’ll compare the features of the castle with other buildings
we see around us. This is an excellent opportunity for your
class to show off their knowledge.
We’ll also look at the land around the buildings, the structure
and height of the castle walls and turrets.
“Why did people stop building castles?”
Our investigation on weapon types allows us to investigate how
weapons changed and why castles had to change because of
this. The change in weaponry meant a massive shift in role for
your typical castle.
“What was it like to live in a castle?”
Craigmillar Castle is a terrific place to explore! We’re often the
only group in the castle, which lets your class use their detective
skills to investigate the interior rooms and work out how they
were once used.
The kitchen of Craigmillar is a great place to investigate. Your
guide will point out various features in the room for your classes
to think about and then use to help them imagine this room as it
once was. There are so many opportunities for the class to use
their history detective skills.
Important information for
the class teacher
“What can we see, hear and smell in a
castle?”
Castles have a very different ‘feel’ to them, and this tour will
make the most of opportunities to encourage your class to use
their senses as they move around the building.
Your class will walk under a portcullis, in and out of exposed old
rooms and they’ll even see an authentic toilet! They will walk up
turnpike staircases, hearing the echos and muffled sounds,
smelling the smells you experience when you actually visit a
castle. These sensations make for great writing opportunities!
Wet weather information
This tour has significant ‘outside’ sections with limited areas
where we can shelter out of the rain. We do realise that a wet
and windy day probably isn’t going make for positive memories!
We’re pretty flexible and will happily reschedule your date.
There’s no extra cost for this, although this may not be possible
due your castle booking or organised transportation. However,
please know that, whatever the weather, we will be there for
you!
If you’d like to reschedule your tour, please let us know by 8.30
am on the morning of your tour. My mobile number is 07590
026 077
Accessibility information
This one-hour tour won’t involve lots of walking, but there are
few areas to offer proper rest points. We’ve put together a page
which will highlight some relevant accessibility issues which
occur on this tour route.
We will try to alter the tour if needed. There are limited options
for this, however. Sadly, most castles don’t have perfect
accessibility options.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is something which your governing body will
legally need you to carry out and, as such, we can only offer
some suggestions and recommendations for your paperwork.
While we can’t offer these as your official risk assessment,
please click here to download our suggested risk assessment
information and our route instructions.
Toilets and added value to your tour (!)
We’ve got no ‘toilet’ stops on our section of this tour. Craigmillar
Castle does have toilets with access for guests. There are toilets
situated throughout Edinburgh Castle.
Please note that our fee is only for your guided tour. Schools will
have to book transport and use of the castle separately. Please
also note that Edinburgh Castle has strict guidelines for tour
guides - we can’t, for example, guide inside any of the buildings.
We strongly advise that you consider booking Craigmillar Castle.
Previous classes have been able to lunch in the castle and then
explore the grounds in their own time, after the tour.
You may wish to investigate Historic Environment Scotland’s
offers for subsidised transport. Find out more here.
Please contact us so that we can discuss your castle
tour requirements.
You can also call/text us on; 07590 026 077
Welcome to your First Level castle
exploration!
We’ve designed this tour to help teachers delivering an early
years/First Level project on castles. We’ll cover some of the most
interesting aspects of castles - features of a castle, life in a castle,
attacking and defending a castle, and why people stopped building
castles.
This tour isn’t one where your guide simply points out the past and
talks, it’s been carefully designed to maximise active thinking skills
and ‘think, pair, share’ opportunities’.
We can run this tour at most castles, but we really recommend
Craigmillar Castle. Craigmillar is usually quiet and really easy to
explore, and there’s a minimal charge from Historic Environment
Scotland. Please note that any fee for using the castle, and booking
is separate from Historic Edinburgh Tours.
1hr
TOUR
(APPROX)
SCHOOL
ACTIVITY
TOUR
£2
PER
PUPIL
TOUR
DESIGNED
AND LED BY
A TEACHER
WALKING
DIFFICULTY;
GRADIENTS
AND STEPS
AIMED AT
FIRST
LEVEL
YOUR TOUR AT A GLANCE
START TIME;
YOU
CHOOSE!
TOURS
AVAILABLE
MONDAY
TO WED
CRAIGMILLAR
CASTLE VISIT
NEEDS BOOKED
SEPERATELY
FIRST LEVEL
CASTLES TOUR
WE’RE GOOD TO GO!
COVID-19 AND YOUR SAFETY
Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd have achieved the
‘Good to go” standard from Visit Britain.
You can find out more about our COVID-19
policy here.
© Historic Edinburgh Tours Ltd 2020
Text/Call us :
+44 (0)7590 026 077