Roslin Castle

The ruins of the castle that we can see today were once the residence of one of the most powerful families in Scotland, the St Claires (currently known as Sinclair). They were descendants of the Normans, and received these lands after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Earls of Rosslyn were wealthy and powerful, so they built the famous Rosslyn Chapel in imitation of the Templar style (it is not actually a Templar church).

The original castle was a little closer to the River Esk, which runs through the ruins, and was built in the twelfth century. If the castle is in poor condition today, it's because of a long history of sieges, wars, fires and other calamaties.