Visit to Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel is only 12 miles from the centre of Edinburgh. The visit starts at the information centre which has an exhibition about the history of the chapel, the carvings and the surrounding area. In the chapel we received a talk by one of the guides who explained in more detail the significance of some of the carvings and then gave us a guided tour. We then had time to walk around on our own, some of us went down the steep stairs to the crypt and then for a look outside the chapel.

The chapel is fairly small but there are hundreds of interesting carvings to look at, both inside and outside. The chapel dates back to the 1400s and has an interesting history or its own, long before it became famous around the world due to Dan Brown’s book and the film ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

After the tour we went to see an old ruin castle 10 minutes walk from the chapel and down to the nearby river. We then came back up to the information centre and had hot chocolate, tea and cake in the cafe. If you have more time, you can spend a couple of hours walking in Roslin Glen. There are several signed paths for you to follow.

If you want to visit the chapel on your own, you can take Lothian Buses number 15 from the centre of town (Princes Street) to the village of Roslin. The chapel is only a few minutes walk from the bus stop in the village. Check the website for bus times www.lothianbuses.com and the chapel website for opening times www.rosslynchapel.com