Dirleton Castle
After a very nice birthday lunch with friends we visited the nearby ruined Dirleton Castle.    The castle, which was built in the 12th century on a rocky outcrop, was very vulnerable because of its close proximity to the route of invading English armies.   It was occupied by the English from 1298 to 1311 then after being recaptured by the Scots, Robert the Bruce ordered its partial demolition.  It was subsequently rebuilt another couple of times and then left in ruins, like many others, after Cromwell’s armies destroyed it in 1650.   A new mansion house was built nearby while the grounds were maintained as gardens and today the castle grounds have the world’s longest herbaceous border