Castle Rock is a volcanic rock formation in Edinburgh where Edinburgh Castle is located. The rock has been inhabited by humans since the Iron Age, but Edinburgh Castle was built in the 13th century and has stood there ever since. The rock has sheer, craggy cliff faces on three of four sides, making it a good defensive position as the only access is to the east. It was the seat of the Scottish monarchy for centuries, but now functions mostly as a museum and is one of Scotland's top tourist attractions. In "Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland," Wordsworth mentions Castle Rock when she stops in Edinburgh, first stating that it "resembled that of Stirling," another Scottish castle on top of a volcanic rock formation. She also mentions that it looks "exceedingly large" through the rain and fog in the city, giving it a somewhat imposing feeling.
