A Queen at a week old and then executed for treason at the age of 44, the life of Mary, Queen of Scots was married by troubled marriages, betrayal, sickness, rebellion and murder.
As she sought to hold her reign, the castles of Scotland became central to her peace and safety as she sought sanctuary and the loyalty of her supporters. Born at Linlithgow Palace in 1542, here we look at nine other castles central to the story of Scotland’s doomed queen.
5. Balvenie Castle, Dufftown
Mary visited Balvenie in September 1562. It was then the main residence of John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl,a distant cousin and one of her closest and most loyal Catholic allies. Photo: geograph.org/Craig Williams
6. Hermitage Castle, Newcastleton, Borders
Mary visited Hermitage only once after a trip to Jedburgh on business in October 1566. During her stay, she learned her loyal supporter the Earl of Bothwell had been ambushed and injured by Borders brigands. She embarked on a 50-mile round trip on horseback to see him and fell seriously ill thereafter. She married him seven months later. PIC: Scotland in Focus/M Moar. Photo: Scotfocus/CC
7. Crichton Castle, Midlothian
Once a magnet for medieval lords and Renaissance noblemen, Crichton was one of several properties belonging to the 4th Earl of Bothwell who controversially became Mary’s third husband in 1567. PIC: Mike Pennington/geograph.org Photo: Mike Pennington /CC/geograph.org
8. Lochleven Castle, Kinross
Mary spent a traumatic year imprisoned at Lochleven following her surrender at the Battle of Carberry Hill near Musselburgh in June 1567. She suffered a miscarriage here and was pressued into signing a letter of abdication in favour of her infant son James VI. She remained a prisoner until July the following year, when she managed to escape. Photo: Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia