//
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Blackness was the port for the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, so the monarchs often travelled this way, and it needed to be stoutly defended. The 15th century castle looks like a stone ship about to sail out into the Firth of Forth. Good views of the Forth Bridges.
Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
is an early 17th century mansion, now run by National Trust for Scotland, It was the home of Tam Dalyell (1932-2017), who coined the "West Lothian Question" on Scotland's position within the UK parliament. The house can be visited on guided tours booked through website only, but the extensive grounds remain free to enjoy, no dogs. The "binns" are the two small "bens" (hills) which the estate ranges over.
Ruined but imposing medieval palace. A fort stood here in the 14th century but it and much of the town burned down. King James I rebuilt it, his successors continued to embellish it, and Mary Queen of Scots was born here in 1542. But it became neglected after the monarchy moved to England, part-collapsing in 1607: King James VI&I paid for repairs but didn't resume residence. Bonnie Prince Charlie briefly passed this way in 1745, excuse enough for the Duke of Cumberland to burn down whatever was left.
A 370-hectare country park in the Bathgate hills above Linlithgow. Activities including archery, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, pioneering, orienteering, hillcraft and skiing. Beecraigs also hosts a deer farm, trout fishery, sawmill and campsite, see "Sleep".