Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh Castle National War Museum of Scotland (1/3)

 

Now we start out journey exploring the museums inside the castle. I have only 2 museums in my collection on the lower castle ground. Yet we spent almost 2hours exploring them. It was pretty much information overload! The first museum we walked into was the National War Museum of Scotland.  

I saw this sign at the entrance of the museum and thought it was so artistic. Note, there is a gift shop at the entrance of the museum, and they sold pretty lovely jewelries and souvenirs. If you want to get yourself something nice and authentic, I would recommend getting it here. The price is on the higher side though, but at least it's authentic. I didn't get anything, cause I wanted to save up to get some Celtic jewelries and maybe a book, and I needed to do that at the end of my trip. 

It was a war museum, but what greeted you when you stepped in were friendly soldier looking dolls. I thought they were rather cute! They looked like something out of my children's story books! Were they trying to tone down the perception of war? Granted that countries during that period was always at war with someone or themselves....

Perhaps because I was Asian, I didn't quite appreciate the information or history surrounding the wars in this area. I did learnt a lot about Jacobites and clan wars of Scotland, and although I find them fascinating, I doubt I will appreciate visiting their battleground that much. Luckily the war museum also showcase other artefacts related to the armies and national pride, which I can appreciate.

Uniforms and items used during war time were on displayed.

Highland sword, with lovely workmanship I can appreciate. It was always like jewelry design. On my maiden trip to Scotland, I also learnt that the Highlands and South of Scotland area like totally different countries! Lol. And to be frank, I prefer the Highlands. It felt really natural and magical there, and that's were all the fairies are, and the Gaelic language and culture is more alive in.

Beautiful art pieces on a sword. I bet these are ceremonial sword? I mean, could you fight with this? 

There were also medals on display, I guess expected of any military museum. 

And the old war flag of Scotland. I got pretty confused with the flags. Why is it red yellow when I thought the colours of Scotland is white and blue? Ah, long history. 

Here's a selfie of me with my toy soldiers :P A Nation in Arms! Like Terry Pratchett's book Men At Arms!