Forth and Clyde Canal Exploring Edinburgh - Glasgow Canals

 Bearsden Walks

Blackness to Queensferry
Scotland - Lonely Planet Rough Guide Scotland

Photographs of the walk from Blackness Castle

along the Firth of Forth

to the road and rail bridges at South Queensferry

 in the East of Scotland

Returning via Hopetoun House

Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress,
near the village of
 
Blackness
on the south shore of the 
Firth of Forth.


Forth Bridges from Blackness Castle

Forth Bridges

from Blackness Castle






Ruins of Dovecot at Blackness Castle

Ruins of Dovecot

at Blackness Castle





Shore of Firth of Forth

Shore of Firth of Forth



Blackness Castle



Ruins of Dovecot at Blackness Castle

Forth Bridges



House at Society Point

House at Society Point




Cruise Ship in Firth of Forth

Cruise Ship in Firth of Forth




Forth Railway Bridge

Forth Railway Bridge at Queensferry

The Forth Railway Bridge is a cantilever type bridge

over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland.

It is an internationally recognised Scottish landmark.


It is located to the east of the Forth Road Bridge

and 14Km ( 9 miles ) west of central Edinburgh.




Forth Railway Bridge

Forth Railway Bridge at Queensferry






Forth Road Bridge

Forth Road Bridge at Queensferry

The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland.

 The bridge was built in 1964 and spans the Firth of Forth.

It connects Edinburgh at South Queensferry

 to Fife at North Queensferry.

It is located to the west of the Forth Railway Bridge.



New Forth Road Bridge

New Forth Road Bridge  ( the Queensferry Crossing )

under construction at Queensferry




Aerial view of New Forth Road Bridge  ( the Queensferry Crossing )

Aerial view of New Forth Road Bridge

 ( the Queensferry Crossing )




Aerial view of Forth Bridges

Aerial view of Forth Bridges 




Aerial view of Forth Bridges

Aerial view of Forth Bridges 




Aerial view of Forth Bridges

Aerial view of Forth Bridges 



Forth Railway Bridge

Forth Railway Bridge





South Queensferry

South Queensferry



South Queensferry

Jubilee Clock

commemorating the golden jubilee

 of Queen Victoria

 
on the former Tolbooth

 in High Street of South Queensferry




Shore of Firth of Forth

Shore of Firth of Forth 




Entrance Gates to Hopetoun House

Entrance Gates to Hopetoun House 




Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House

The country house was built between 1699-1701

and then hugely extended from 1721

It is owned by the Hopetoun House Preservation Trust,

a charity established in 1974

to preserve the House and Grounds as a national monument.




Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House 



Gardens at Hopetoun House

Gardens at Hopetoun House 




Gardens at Hopetoun House

Gardens at Hopetoun House 



Abercorn Church

Abercorn Church



Midhope Castle at Abercorn

Midhope Castle at Abercorn

a 16th-century tower house.

 It is a 
Category A listed building

and a 
scheduled ancient monument



Beach at Blackness Village at start of path to Bo'ness

Beach at Blackness Village

at start of path to Bo'ness



Route map for Blackness to Queensferry

Route map for Blackness to Queensferry



BLACKNESS TO QUEENSFERRY - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:


Location: West Lothian
Map: OS Landranger 65
Distance: 10 miles ( 16km )
Time: 4-5 hours
Terrain: Moderate shoreline walk


This walk, now part of the John Muir Way, has a lot to offer, from ancient carved stones through an imposing castle and a magnificent stately home up to modern marvels of engineering - and with super views as well.
South Queensferry has lots of history. The name derives from Queen Margaret having crossed the Forth here, and in fact there was a ferry to Fife until the Forth Road Bridge opened 40 years ago. As you walk out of Queensferry, you pass under not one road bridge but two, and can see  the progress being made on the new crossing, which is fascinating.
The walk then enters the grounds of Hopetoun House, crossing the Deer Park. The original house was designed by Sir George Bruce for Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun, but what you see today is mostly the work of William Adam, dating from the 1720s. He also laid out the gardens and grounds. The facade is extremely impressive and features a large fountain. The house is open to visitors and stages numerous events. During some of these ( such as horse trials ) access may be restricted.
Leaving Hopetoun, the walk enters mature woodland and crosses the old Nethermill Bridge. The signposted diversion to Abercorn Church is well worth taking. The church is a simple, beautiful building with a history going back more than 1,000 years and in a tiny museum close by are some astonishing carved symbol stones thought to date from the 8th century.
From here on the walk keeps close to the shore for the rest of the way , but because part of it is in woodland you don‘t always get the views.
A long stretch of about 2.5km through Wester Shore Wood ends as you emerge into the open with
Blackness Castle ahead of you.
Blackness was built in the 15th century for the then powerful Crichton family and guarded the harbour for Linlithgow, one of the most important Royal Burghs in Scotland. The castle was later used as a prison.
Looking back from the castle, the view down the Firth really starts to open up.
The route continues through Blackness village and along the shore path to Bo'ness, long popular with local people. The views really open up here and you can look ahead and right to the Ochil Hills and the distant cone of Ben Lomond and back to the three great bridges.
Another woodland section follows, intriguing because as well as a great variety of woodland birds you can also find waders, so you might well see and hear curlew and jays at the same time.
Nearing
Bo'ness there is another open section with stupendous views.
The final stretch of the walk keeps to the shore outside Bo’ness’s industrial area and crosses a park to reach
Bo'ness Harbour. Next to the harbour is Bo'ness Station from where you can round off your day with a trip on a steam train to Kinneil.
Bo'ness itself ( originally Borrowstounness ) has a long history and is well worth exploring.



Route:

Buses run from
Linlithgow to South Queensterry and from Bo'ness back to Linlithgow.
Visit www.travelinescotland.com.
Leave S Oueensferry by Hopetoun Road.
Fork right under the Road Bridge ( NCH76 signs )
and continue with Hopetoun Fload, later Society Road, for 1.5km.
Fork L to enter Hopetoun Estate through gates.
Follow the signs L then R and through a gate.
Cross the Deer Park on a track and TR twice as signed to go down into woods.
Cross burn by bridge and follow track through Wester Shore Wood for 2.5km then path to Blackness.
Visit castle then walk through village and continue on shore path to
Bo'ness.
Keep outside industrial area on shore path, later take concrete walkway past small harbour.
At park area take L fork, leaving JMW. then in 150m go R to
Bo'ness Harbour.
Go L by harbour, cross railway by bridge and go R on Union St to town centre and bus station.
Note: Access through the Hopetoun Estate can be affected by major events.
Visit their website tor dates and details.







Route Map for Blackness to Abercorn Church

Route Map for Blackness to Abercorn Church



BLACKNESS TO ABERCORN CHURCH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

This fine coastal walk links Blackness Castle on the Firth of Forth with Abercorn Church and its ancient graveyard.
Much of the walk is in woodland and while this will provide shelter from the Forth's winds there may be tree debris from recent storms so care is needed.
From the village follow the road north towards Blackness Castle, which occupies a commanding position on a promontory jutting into the Firth of Forth.
Built to defend Blackness, the seaport for Linlithgow's Royal Palace, the original 14th-century keep was fortified into an impressive
artillery fortification that saw considerable action. The castle is open to the public.
Turn right before the entrance to the castle courtyard and follow a path beside the outer wall to steps, which lead to the grassy frontage of the bay.
From here a path leads round the bay to a gate at the entrance to Wester Shore Wood.
The track through the woodland to Abercom is part of a national cycle route.
The track gives a straightforward route to Nethermill Bridge over the Midhope Burn at the western end of Hopetoun Estate with
glimpses through the trees to the Firth of Forth and Fife.
Turn right after the bridge and over a subsidiary burn on to a section of new track up to Abercorn Church. It dates mostly from
the late 1800s though a blocked doorway on the south side is from the 12th century.
An exit can be made from the south-west corner of the graveyard to regain the track, which is descended back to Nethermill Bridge.
Here a variation return can be made via the upper path in Wester Shore Wood. This follows paths and tracks, and is a little wilder than the prepared cycle route.
Cross the bridge, turn left and follow the track beside the burn to a junction, turn right and follow the path and track beside the southern boundary of the woodland.
It is best to descend via the first or second obvious path on the right as the last section of the path has a tricky rock-step across a burn.
If you get to this point and don't fancy the crossing then it is only a short distance back to a path leading down to the cycle route.
Back on the cycle route follow it to the woodland gate and turn left up the path to Blackness.




Location map for Blackness and Queensferry

Location map for Blackness and Queensferry




Map for Blackness to South Queensferry

Map for Blackness to South Queensferry


 
 Blackness to Queensferry Gallery Photo Gallery

<< BackBearsden Walks : Next >>



Scotland Index :: Scotland Walks :: Scotland Castles

Glencoe | Ben Nevis | Knoydart | Isle of Skye | Isle of Arran | The West Highland Way

The Eastern Highlands | The Central Highlands | The Southern Highlands | The NW Highlands


Adventure Travel : Worldwide Mountaineering : Site Index

fb icon  google+ icon  Linkedin icon  twitter










Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGlasgow Popular Hills - Map




Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in Scotland100 Hillwalks around Glasgow

Walking Through Scotland - From the Border to Cape Wrath Dumfries & Galloway - 25 Walks Scottish Borders - 25 WalksSt.Cuthbert's Way - Official Guide Southern Uplands WaySouthern Uplands WaySouthern Upland WayWalking the Southern Upland Way Across Scotland on Foot

Ochils and Campsie Fells  The Pentland Hills  The Border Country  Galloway Hills


Forth & Clyde Canal  Forth and Clyde Canal Exploring Edinburgh - Glasgow Canals 

Glasgow - A Portrait   Wee Book of Glasgow  Glasgow from the Air  Glasgow - No Mean City  Lost Glasgow  Glasgow - The Real Gorbals Story    

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend









extremetracking
 


extremetracking

Google Analytics







Google Analytics

extremetracking
 eXTReMe Tracker


extremetracking
Sitelock caingram.com
SiteLock
Sitelock
Sitelock caingram.info
SiteLock
Sitelock