Historic days out in West Lothian
House of Binns
Linlithgow, West Lothian,EH49 7NA
Opening times
Tour must be booked in advance, please visit the website for times
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Cost
Adult £12.50
Child £7.50
Young Scot £1.00
What they say
With spectacular views across the Scottish countryside, the home of the Dalyells boasts 400 years of fascinating family history.
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Enjoy a guided tour of the house, filled with rich storytelling and an impressive collection of family portraits, furniture and porcelain that reveals the lives and interests of the family through the centuries.
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Admire the magnificent plaster ceilings from 1630, commissioned for the visit of King Charles I to Scotland in 1633.
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See the Scottish Renaissance painted wood decoration, a rare survival from the earliest period of the house.
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Walk through woodland to the tower on the hill for a wonderful panoramic view of central Scotland.
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Blackness Castle
Blackness, Linlithgow, EH49 7NH
Opening times
29 March to 30 September: 9.30am to 5pm
1 October to 28 March: 10am to 4pm
Cost
Adult £7.50
Child (7-15yrs) £4.50
What they say
Mighty fortifications make this 15th-century castle look like a ‘ship that never sailed’. Blackness was never just a peaceful lordly residence – its enduring roles were as a garrison fortress and state prison.
What to see and do
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Blackness Castle stood in for Fort William in series one of TV show Outlander.
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Take in the castle’s stunning location on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth
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Learn about the Crichtons – for whom Blackness was built – one of Scotland’s most powerful families
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Stand in awe of the formidable fortress – this was not only a noble residence but also a stronghold built for war
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Climb the towers and curtain wall for sweeping views of the Firth of Forth and its rail and road bridges
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Try our fun fact-finding quiz
Linlithgow Palace
Kirkgate, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7AL
Opening times
29 March to 30 September: 9.30am to 5pm
1 October to 28 March: 10am to 4pm
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Cost
Adult £10
Child (7-16) £6
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What they say
Explore the magnificent ruins of the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow Palace was built and added to over two centuries by the Stewart kings, resulting in a superb Renaissance residence.
This impressive retreat was an ideal place for royals to break the journey between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. High towers look out over lush greenery and a loch brimming with wildfowl, which is today a Site of Special Scientific Interest cared for by our rangers.
Several monarchs were born in this royal ‘pleasure palace’, surrounded by its peaceful gardens and grounds. Our annual Spectacular Jousting event each summer harks back to the days of medieval tournaments on Linlithgow Peel.
What to see and do
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Step inside the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace
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Gain unique insights into the domestic life of Scottish royalty
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Admire elegant architecture such as the oriel windows of the king’s and queen’s bedchambers
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Enjoy open views from Queen Margaret’s Bower over the peel and loch to the Forth bridges
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Have a picnic by the loch and spot some local wildlife
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Torphichen Preceptory
Torphichen, West Lothian, EH48 4NB
Opening times
1 April to 30 September:
Saturday and Sunday only (and bank holidays), 1pm to 5pm
Closed 1 October to 31 March
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Cost
Adult: £2.00
Child aged 5–15: £1.50
Child under 5: FREE
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What they say
Explore the high tower and remains of the medieval headquarters of Scotland’s Knights Hospitaller.
Torphichen Preceptory was founded by David I in the 1100s. It was the Scottish base of operations for the order’s work, which involved sheltering and protecting pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.
Much of what we see today was built in the 1400s. Only a precious fragment of the knights’ house remains, but there are a few remarkable survivals. Spot the master mason’s working diagram for the ribbed vault etched into the south transept wall, or look up to find a remarkable painted wall decoration.