Mons Meg
4
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The area
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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Best nearby
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2,203 within 5 kms
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559 within 10 kms
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4.0
62 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
29
Average
16
Poor
0
Terrible
0
bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK22,633 contributions
Aug 2020
This magnificent piece is situated at the top of Edinburgh Castle looking out over the battlements towards the Firth of Forth. Given the scale it is hard to imagine that it was ever moved let alone used in anger. However, reading the background it once was moved over 50 miles in 1460 at an average rate of 3 miles per day by oxen under the control of troops commanded by King James the Second of Scotland. Indeed the gun remained operational until 1681, when the barrel finally burst.
Written 4 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🥳 🎉 🥳 Keep Life Simple 🥳🎉🥳
Pittsburgh, PA127,902 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
This cannon is located inside Edinburgh Castle. That means you have to pay castle admission to view it. It is a very large impressive cannon.
Written 9 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daesquiv
San Jose, Costa Rica632 contributions
Aug 2020
This is one big cannon that, for the standards back then was the most powerful weapon used in the old days. With it's 20 inch diameter barrel you can see the cannon balls next to it and have an idea of the firepower it had.
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily D
Baltimore, MD49 contributions
June 2018 • Solo
I wanted to write a review for this cannon at Edinburgh Castle because I loved the sign for it so much. It reads:
"DEFEND MONS MEG! Please do not climb on Mons Meg. She levelled castle walls and terrified the enemies of Scotland's kings. But that was more than 500 years ago.
Please treat this grand old lady with some respect."
Bravo, Scotland. Go visit the castle and this grand old lady. Like the castle, she is big and she is old.
"DEFEND MONS MEG! Please do not climb on Mons Meg. She levelled castle walls and terrified the enemies of Scotland's kings. But that was more than 500 years ago.
Please treat this grand old lady with some respect."
Bravo, Scotland. Go visit the castle and this grand old lady. Like the castle, she is big and she is old.
Written 26 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James P
Cambridge, UK2,799 contributions
May 2022
This is situated within the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, so you can only see it if you pay for the castle entry ticket. It is huge - an impressive cannon that was unsurpassed in its day.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wick1979
Dallas, TX2,778 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
A beast of a cannon for the wealthy kings. Great view from where it's sit right out side the chapel on top of the castle.
Written 29 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnnymac2017
Kilmacolm, UK1,324 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
This is a 15 century medieval bombard, that was capable of firing 400lb/20 inch cannon balls about 2 miles. It's enormous.
In 1489, James iv brought it to besiege Duchal Castle in Kilmacolm as they supported a movement against him.
They took one look at Mons Meg being prepared to be used against them, and surrendered immediately.
Having seen it close up, I can understand why.
Legend has it that it was capable of firing a cannon ball right through a castle.
In 1489, James iv brought it to besiege Duchal Castle in Kilmacolm as they supported a movement against him.
They took one look at Mons Meg being prepared to be used against them, and surrendered immediately.
Having seen it close up, I can understand why.
Legend has it that it was capable of firing a cannon ball right through a castle.
Written 25 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BarbieMegaTraveller
Sydney, Australia6,914 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Every day at 1pm cannon fire is shot from Edinburgh Castle towards the bay area, as traditionally this told the sailors what time it was and it helped them keep time.
This old cannon used to be the one to do this job, however it has now been replaced with a modern anti aircraft cannon (see pic). Either way they are both impressive - the old cannon (see pic) is a great legacy of time gone by and it looks beautiful, the new one isn't attractive to look at but when it fires at 1pm it is a wonderful site.
Before cannons were used sailors relied on their spyglass (telescope) which was centred on Nelson's Monument at Calton Hill, where a large black ball climbs up the steeple of the Monument, then at 1pm drops down. This still goes on at Nelson's Monument and it's free to watch, so head there another day and you'll also hear the cannon go off at the same time you see the ball drop.
This old cannon used to be the one to do this job, however it has now been replaced with a modern anti aircraft cannon (see pic). Either way they are both impressive - the old cannon (see pic) is a great legacy of time gone by and it looks beautiful, the new one isn't attractive to look at but when it fires at 1pm it is a wonderful site.
Before cannons were used sailors relied on their spyglass (telescope) which was centred on Nelson's Monument at Calton Hill, where a large black ball climbs up the steeple of the Monument, then at 1pm drops down. This still goes on at Nelson's Monument and it's free to watch, so head there another day and you'll also hear the cannon go off at the same time you see the ball drop.
Written 5 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DoctorVincenzoVonCueBall
Butte, MT1,884 contributions
Mar 2016 • Business
They fire this off with a military cannon daily and you can see it by buying a ticket for the castle at the top of the hill above old town
the Doctor hit me with a helpful vote!
the Doctor hit me with a helpful vote!
Written 19 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeppe S
Copenhagen, Denmark803 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
THe Mons Meg is a mighty cannon in Royal Armouries' collection. It was built in 1449 on the orders of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and sent by him as a gift to James II, King of Scots, in 1454.
It has the largest caliber of any cannon in the world. Very impressive all together.
It is within the grounds of Edinburgh Castle so you need to buy a ticket to see it.
It has the largest caliber of any cannon in the world. Very impressive all together.
It is within the grounds of Edinburgh Castle so you need to buy a ticket to see it.
Written 23 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am bringing an autistic grandson to Edinburgh. Just how loud is the noise from moms meg ?
Written 25 July 2018
Hi Megg,
Mons Meg hasn't been fired in anger for centuries ! The cannon that is fired is a modern artillery gun and the practice is time check dating back to sailing days and Ithink it is at 1pm ?
Enjoy, Skeney.
Written 26 July 2018
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