Castle · Ruin

Hailes Castle

East Linton, East Lothian
Directions
  • Open
  • Free entry
  • Parking on site
  • Historic Environment Scotland
Hailes Castle: Hailes Castle
Photo: marsupium photography · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Hailes Castle is a ruined castle near East Linton, East Lothian, managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Entry is free and the site is open at any reasonable time. There is a car park on site.

Getting to Hailes Castle and parking

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Directions to Hailes Castle View on a map
Address
EH41 4PY
Parking
Car park on site. Very limited parking; park responsibly and considerately.
By train
Newcraighall is 16 miles away.

What to see at Hailes Castle

  • 01

    Curtain wall

    The outer defensive wall around the site.

  • 02

    Chapel

    A chapel inside the castle.

  • 03

    Views

    Notable views from the site.

History of Hailes Castle

  1. 1298 Possibly one of three East Lothian castles captured by Antony Bek during Edward I's invasion.
  2. 1535 James Hepburn, 4th earl of Bothwell, probably born here.
  3. 1567 Mary Queen of Scots and Bothwell stay on the way to their wedding.
  4. 1578 Bothwell dies in exile in Denmark.
  5. 1650 Attack by Cromwell's forces ends its days as a noble residence.

Photos

Castles near Hailes Castle

All 31 castles in Scotland

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on api.postcodes.io · checked 15 Oct 2026
  2. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 14 Oct 2026
  3. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 15 Oct 2026
  4. Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot · checked 15 Oct 2026
  5. Wikidata · checked 15 Oct 2026
  6. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 14 Oct 2026

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