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Bearsden WalksBoness to The Binns
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 The Old Kirk in
Boness
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Harbour at Boness |
 Shoreline on Firth of Forth between Boness and Blackness |
 Beach
at Blackness Village
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 The "Lobster Pot" in Blackness
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 Information
Board
at the House of the Binns |
 Map
of the House of the Binns
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 House
of the Binns
- a historic house in West Lothian dating from the early 17th century. |
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 The
Tower at House
of the Binns
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 Walled
Garden at House
of the Binns
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 Peacock
at House
of the Binns
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 Parkland
at House
of the Binns
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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.
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