Built in the 1440s by the Lord High Admiral of Scotland, this imposing castle juts like the prow of a ship into the Firth of Forth at Blackness, 4 miles northeast of Linlithgow. Its mighty curtain walls have panoramic Forth Bridge views, while the dank pit prison – which flooded twice a day at high tide – offers a less pleasant perspective on fortress life.
Blackness Castle
Scotland
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.87 MILES
Edinburgh Castle has played a pivotal role in Scottish history, both as a royal residence – King Malcolm Canmore (r 1058–93) and Queen Margaret first made…
29.55 MILES
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17.32 MILES
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18.56 MILES
Hold Stirling and you control Scotland. This maxim has ensured that a fortress of some kind has existed here since prehistoric times. You cannot help…
29.04 MILES
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13.27 MILES
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Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
11.85 MILES
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13.79 MILES
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Nearby Scotland attractions
2.52 MILES
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3.76 MILES
Built between the 1420s and the 1530s, this Gothic church is topped by a controversial aluminium spire added in 1964, representing a crown of thorns. The…
3.76 MILES
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3.78 MILES
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5. Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum
4.84 MILES
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4.89 MILES
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4.89 MILES
If the kids are tiring of historic buildings, a trip here might make them feel more kindly towards Fife. Situated at North Queensferry, beneath the Forth…
4.9 MILES
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