Photographs, route description and map of a walk around the Historic Town of Linlithgow in the central belt of Scotland

The Black Bitch of Linlithgow

The Primary School Building in Linlithgow

The Primary School Building ( 1900 )

in Linlithgow

The Palace and St Michael's Church

from the Union Canal

running through Linlithgow

The Bridge Inn

at Linlithgow Bridge

The Avon Railway Viaduct

from Linlithgow Bridge

The 442 yard 23 arch bridge
was built in 1839-41

The viaduct is a category "A" listed building

Wikipedia - Avon Viaduct

The Avon Railway Viaduct

The 442 yard 23 arch bridge
was built in 1839-41

The viaduct is a category "A" listed building

Wikipedia - Avon Viaduct

Location map for Linlithgow

Map of walk around Linlithgow

LINLITHGOW CIRCULAR WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: West Loth|ian
Map: OS Landranger 65
Distance: 6miles (10km)
Time: 3-4 hours
Terrain: Canal tow path, riverside path and tarmac streets

There is something appealing about walking beside water, and this walk offers three variations on that theme - canal, river and loch.
The ﬁrst section is along the Union Canal. Largely designed by Hugh Baird, the canal was opened in 1822. but when the railway arrived 20 years later it cut the journey time from Glasgow to Edinburgh from more than 12 hours to 2.5 hours, although the canal continued taking commercial trafﬁc until 1933.
In recent times recreational interest has increased, and following the completion of the Millennium Link Project, the whole canal is open again. There are regular sailings from the basin in summer. The walk continues along the canal towpath. which is particularly well used by cyclists, who rarely give warning of their approach. The canal has plenty of birdlife. from swans to moorhens.
There are several major historic structures on the walk: the ﬁrst of these is the Avon Aqueduct. Crossing the deep glen of the River Avon presented a real challenge to the canal builders and they turned to the greatest engineer of the day, Thomas Telford.
The result is the magniﬁcent structure you see, the longest aqueduct in Scotland. With a length of 810ft (247m) and a maximum height of 85ft (215m), it carries the canal in a series of superb striding arches. It is worth walking across the aqueduct and back before continuing with the route below.
There is plenty to ponder as you leave the canal to walk beside the River Avon, which has many delightful little turns and tumbles. Before long you reach the 23-arch rail viaduct across the valley on the main line linking Edinburgh and Glasgow, which opened in 1842. lt is every hit as impressive as the aqueduct, and trains stiil use it.
A slightly complex jink through the houses (pay close attention to the directions and you won't go wrong) leads to Linlithgow Loch, which provides a superb foreground for the majestic Palace on its knoll, called The Peel. The loch is a designated Site Of Special Scientiﬁc Interest and the yellow water lilies at the south-east corner are said to have been ﬂourishing for 400 years.
Linlithgow Palace is forever associated with Mary Queen Of Scots. who was born there in 1542. After the Union Of The Crowns in 1603 the Palace was much less used and Charles I was the last monarch to sleep there, in 1633. Bonnie Prince Charlie was there in 1745 and the following year, while occupied by the Duke Of Cumberlands troops, the Palace was seriously damaged by ﬁre and was newer fully rebuilt.
Next to the Palace is St Mlchael’s Church. Originally dedicated in 1242, much of the existing building dates from the lﬁth century. Its aluminium ‘crown of thorns‘ is a very prominent landmark.
On the way back to the station you pass St Michael's Well, dated 1720 with the encouraging legend "St Michael is kind to straingers".

House of the Binns

Tower at the House of the Binns

HOUSE OF THE BINNS

The House of the Binns provides walks, views, woodlands and a ﬁne sprinkling of history, including some ghostly legends.

STORY QF THE GARDEN:

The house was built in 1612 by Thomas Dalyell, a prosperous Edinburgh Merchant who had made his fortune at the court of James VI.
He chose to site it north of Linlithgow, on the brow of a hill overlooking the River Forth and the grounds around it were laid out in
walks and rides, with views leading down to the river.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Binns Tower stands on the hill above the house. As garden ornaments go it is pretty impressive and the view even more so, taking in
the Pentlands, the Lomond hills in Fife and all three Forth bridges.
Paths lead to the tower and also criss-cross the meadows and woodlands that cover the wider estate.
And keep a look-out for a ghostly rider on a white stallion galloping along the road that leads to the main gate.

DON'T MISS:

The house is currently undergoing renovations, however this makeover is unlikely to be as extensive as the one that took place in 1633 when
elaborate plaster ceilings were commissioned for a visit by King Charles I.
But even when closed, the house provides an anchor for the designed landscape, which straddles both sides of the hill.
The original walled garden fell into disuse many years ago and the outline of the formal garden in front of the house
can still be seen on the ground.

ANYTHING ELSE TO LOOK OUT FOR:

The Sergeant’s Pond is where the Devil is reputed to have thrown a card table after an ill-fated game with “Bluidy Tam”, the
infamous General Tam Dalyell, who suppressed the Covenanters following the Pentland Rising in 1666 and founded the Royal Scots Greys.
During a drought in 1878 the pond dried up and a card table was found in its depths. The table was restored and returned to the house.

BEST TIME TO VlSlT:

In winter the views across the Forth are spectacular and in January, swathes of snowdrops appear beneath the trees.
These are followed by daffodils and in early summer the meadows are full of wildﬂowers.

RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREA:

The shallow waters of Linlithgow Loch provide food and habitat for ducks, swans and many other birds.
A path leads around the circumference and can be walked in less than an hour.
Two islands of the loch are believed to be the remains of crannogs, which early settlers constructed as places of safety more
than 5,000 years ago.

DIRECTIONS:

House of the Binns is near Old Philipstoun, on the A904 from the Forth Road Bridge to Linlithgow.

DETAILS:

The estate is open daily from 9am-7.30pm.
Entrance to the grounds is free.