Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle is certainly the ‘poorer cousin’ of the city’s castles in terms of visitor traffic, yet it’s one of Scotland’s most well-preserved medieval castles. Managed by Historic Environment Scotland the castle dates back to the 14th century and is well worth a visit. The surrounding Craigmillar Castle Park is an unrestricted public area and free to walk around at any time. A winding grassy path to the rear of the castle adds character and is part of the network of trails around the park area. Parking is available nearby.

Spring and summer present the green foliage and blue sky this composition relies on, but an equally impressive image can be made from dark brooding skies or moody days to give the image character, even in the winter months when the trees are bare of leaves. A super-wide lens lets you anchor the worn path in the foreground and lead it up to the castle, but it can work with a standard wide lens too. Use a polarising filter if shooting on a bright day to deepen the sky and enhance the greens by cutting reflection.