Canals and Castles

Family Friendly Rating:     73%


DISTANCE                                  EST. TIME [Excl breaks]                                     CALORIES
  19 Miles                                                 3 Hours                                                          566

Union Canal

Following on from last weeks cycle from the Falkirk Wheel to Linlithgow we decided to try out a cycle heading from Linlithgow following the canal path out towards Winchburgh.  From their we headed up towards Hopetoun House, followed the coastal path to Blackness Castle before returning back towards  Linlithgow.

This cycle turned out to be very scenic. From beauty of the union canal to historic houses, this cycle has a lot of interest along it's route.

We parked the car at Water Yett, which was free, but a little on the busy side considering this was on a Sunday Morning at 11am.  Typically, the rain had just started as we arrived at the car park so we waited a few moments for it to lighten before setting off.

Before I delve in to the cycle itself, it worthy to note that Linlithgow has numerous places to snack and eat and most of these are open on a Sunday given it's touristy nature.  Unfortunately along the cycle there are not a lot of opportunities to eat/drink so it may be advantageous to utilise the facilities here either before or after your cycle.  We opted for the latter and revisited the Deli Cafe which we had visited the previous week.  Predictably we had the same as last week except this time we thought we would indulge in a couple of the very tempting cakes that they have on display here.  The food again was first class although the cakes were nothing special and were of the standard that could be found in most Supermarket Cafes.  Nonetheless the calorie intake was welcome after the cycle.

The route we opted to cycle round this circular was probably the easier of the two options as there was steep decline from Hopeton down to the Forth.  This would have been a heavy climb if going in the opposite direction.  Also, this route assumes you travel straight in to Winchburgh, however, I have highlighted on the map below a short cut in red which eliminates the need for this and also cuts out a little bit of time on a main road.

Linlithgow Canal Museum

From car park at the loch side, we crossed over the main road in Linthgow and headed up the modestly steep hill towards the union canal tow path.  When you reach the tow path you arrive at the Linlithgow Canal Museum.  This is probably one of the prettiest locations along the canal.  The museum is free and for a small fee you can also take a boat trip in either direction along the canal.  For a much less modest fee you can even hire your own boat to cruise up and down the canal.  The museum also has a small tea room, but unfortunately I have not eaten here so would be unable to recommend or otherwise this establishment.

Leaving the canal museum behind and heading eastward along the Union Canal, you travel for a few miles on probably the quietest and most rural section of this canal.  You do pass by a couple of villages, but these are small and it is very much a pass-by.

Duntarvie Castle

As you begin to reach Winchburgh you travel through an old shale quarry at Old Philipstoun, the mounds at either side being a bright red.  As you leave the quarry behind, you will pass the remains of the Auldcathie Church.  This is on the opposite side of the canal to the tow path and is not visible from the cycle way.  It is the remains of an old 14th Century chapel.  I would not recommend a detour to visit this place as the only element remaining is the two gable walls.

Winchburgh is a rather nondescript town and is probably not worth lingering at, however, it is the location for turning and heading towards Hopetoun.

As you travel along the B8020 toward Hopetoun, you will pass the ruins of Duntarvie castle.  These ruins can be seen from the motorway alongside.  This castle was actually a Long Scots Renaissance Villa originally built in the 17th Centuary, although some records suggest it may be as early as the13th Century.  It is currently under restoration, however, this is exceedingly slow as work started on it's repair in 1994.

Hopetoun House

As you continue along this route it is not long before you reach the magnificent Hopetoun House.  Hopeton House is without doubt one of the most impressive country houses in Scotland and was built in the early 18th Century.    This historic house has managed to survive through many Scottish battles which have led to the destruction of many other historic buildings including the likes of Linlithgow Palace.

Heading down towards the Forth estuary you will notice a church on your right hand side.  This is Abercorn Church, situated in the picturesque hamlet of Abercorn.  Although there has been many extensions made to the church over the years, the earliest parts of the church date back to the 12th Century and it is believed that the grounds on which it stands had been sacred since as early as the 5th Century.

Leaving the church behind, you travel down a windy path until you reach the cycle way along the banks of the Forth.  This is a lovely stretch to cycle.  Looking across the Forth estuary you will see the naval town of Rosyth and depending upon the day you may also see the cross channel ferry.  Back along the forth is the imposing sight of the Forth Road Bridge and Forth Rail Bridge.  The later is over 2.5km long and when constructed in the 19th Century it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Blackness Castle

The cycle path continues along the edge of the Forth through Wester Shore Wood before opening up onto the grassy banks at Blackness Castle.  Blackness Castle is a striking castle sitting at the headland to Blackness Bay.  Built in 1449, the castle has been under numerous occupations and has been used as a garrison, prison and even a movie set.  Films including Ivanhoe [1997] and Doomsday [2008] have been filmed at this location.

Returning back towards Linlithgow, there is little to see except the green countryside until your reach the town of Linlithgow itself.  On the final stretch you would pass by the once regal Linlithgow Palace.  Although now mostly in ruin it is not hard to see the previous splendour of this building.  This building has been a Royal House since the 12th Century but following the defeat at Culloden in 1746 the Cumberland Troops set the building ablaze and the building remained in this state until today.

Linlithgow Palace

CYCLE STREET LINKS

Section 1:  Linlithgow to Winchburgh [Quietest Route]
Section 2:  Winchburgh to Abercorn [Quietest Route]
Section 3:  Abercorn to Blackness [Quietest Route]
Section 4:  Blackness to Borrowstoun Road [Quietest]
Section 5:  Borrowstoun Road to Linlithgow [Quietest]

View Linlithgow - Hopeton House Circular in a larger map