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All the United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery

Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Added By
Annetta Black
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  Katelectric / Atlas Obscura User
  Katelectric / Atlas Obscura User
Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Plaque.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Edinburgh Castle   Kim Traynor/CC BY-SA 3.0
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  matthewglidden / Atlas Obscura User
Edinburgh Castle Dog Graveyard   perfectmeatball / Atlas Obscura User
  okami0731 / Atlas Obscura User
Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery   Dominikus / Atlas Obscura User
  starrybluenight / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Southwest corner   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Ariel view   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  okami0731 / Atlas Obscura User
From below   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edi...
Cemetery in winter.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
From below   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Dog Cemetery at Edinburgh Castle March 2023   alittlebrowndog / Atlas Obscura User
  Helen Rose / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located off the main path at the top of Edinburgh Castle, a small garden space holds a soldiers' dog cemetery that dates back to 1837. The year marks the ascent of Queen Victoria to the British throne, and her reign (until 1901) was noted by several cultural traits, among which was an appreciation of pets and companion animals.

The same appreciation for animals that led to the story of Greyfriars Bobby could also have led to the establishment of this cemetery, especially since burial plots in castles were often considered exclusive to military personnel and nobles. The small graveyard is home to about 20 headstones. Many of the engravings  have worn away over time, but the oldest visible inscription is from 1881, a dedication to Jess, band pet of the Black Watch 42nd Royal Highlanders. The youngest headstone commemorates Winkle, who died in 1980 and was the “dear and faithful friend of Lady Gow and the Governor.”

The Scottish poet Robert Burns once commemorated the dog cemetery of Edinburgh Castle in verse: “Berkin dugs here lie at rest / The yappin worst, obedient best / Sodgers pets and mascots tae / Still the guard the castle to this day.” However, this has proven to be erroneous. The words actually were penned by Ali Strachan, who worked for Historic Environment Scotland and were mistakenly attributed to the national bard when she was compiling poems for a Burns Night Supper.

The site of the cemetery may have once been a medieval tower, but it now acts as the final resting place for honored canine companions of the regimental officers. Visitors cannot enter the cemetery, but it can be viewed from above.

Related Tags

Pet Cemeteries Castles Catacombs Dogs Catacombs And Crypts Animals

Know Before You Go

The cemetery can be seen from the top of Edinburgh Castle, down from the Argyle Battery ledge located east of Mons Meg and St. Margaret's Chapel. There is no physical access to the actual graveyard.

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

hrnick, SEANETTA, linkogecko, Jaszmina Szendrey...

  • hrnick
  • SEANETTA
  • linkogecko
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Katelectric
  • rbenn250
  • starrybluenight
  • Dominikus
  • okami0731
  • matthewglidden
  • Helen Rose
  • alittlebrowndog
  • perfectmeatball

Published

March 18, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_cemetery
  • http://www.bestofedinburgh.com/Page.asp?Title=Edinburgh+Castle&Section=25&Page=1
  • http://www.royal-mile.com/castle/castle-cemetary.html
  • http://www.royal-mile.com/castle/castle_plan.html
  • https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/things-to-do/touching-story-edinburgh-castles-dog-cemetery-334207
  • https://stoneanddust.com/2019/04/29/site-187-edinburgh-castles-dog-cemetery/
Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2YT
United Kingdom
55.948973, -3.200012

Nearby Places

Mons Meg

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

William Wallace and Robert the Bruce Statues

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

The Witches' Well

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Mons Meg

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

William Wallace and Robert the Bruce Statues

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

The Witches' Well

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

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