Walk of the Week: Blackness To Abercorn, Firth of Forth

THE 15th-century Blackness Castle dominates the south shore of the Firth of Forth, looking out towards the bridges beyond. Its dramatic construction has not gone unnoticed, even by Hollywood directors – Franco Zeffirelli used it for his 1990 version of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson and Glenn Close.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Mar 2010, 00:00 BST

The surroundings of this medieval stronghold are tranquil, including a stretch of springy turf above the shore that is reminiscent of the machair of the Western Isles, especially as spring starts to come into bloom.

History is underfoot on the approach to Abercorn Church – St Ninian is believed to have come this way in the fifth century.

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The rolling farmland of West Lothian behind the wood reveals the House of the Binns, which was built in 1826, allegedly following a wager made by Sir James Dalyell. The Dalyell family have lived in the house since 1612 and it is currently in the care of the National Trust for Scotland but is home to Tam Dalyell, the former MP for Linlithgow and Father of the House.

DISTANCE

5 miles.

HEIGHT CLIMBED

210 ft.

TIME

2-3 hours.

MAP OS

Landranger 65.

PARKING Drive to the centre of Blackness village, turn right at the foot of the hill and, 50 yards on, there is parking on the left.

IN SUMMARY Continue on the road towards Blackness Castle. Just before the main entrance, go right, through a metal kissing gate and along a path by the side of a building. This leads to the foreshore. Turn right and follow the edge of the beach.

Follow Black Burn inland, then go over a footbridge. At a fork in the path, go right and through a gap in a fence into Wester Shore Wood. The path bends left and loosely follows the shoreline.

Continue for about a mile and a half, until you reach a junction of paths in a clearing. Go left, cross a stone bridge and go right on the other side. About 15 yards after the end of a stone wall on the left, go right, down a path that leads to the side of a burn.

The path bears left and follows the burn upstream. As it becomes less distinct (on reaching a group of yew trees) follow the path up an incline on the left, away from the burn. At the top of the hill is another path – go right. After a few yards, go left over a stile to enter Abercorn churchyard.

Retrace your steps to the other side of the bridge, but then keep straight on. At a wall and two gates, go right along the edge of the wood.

After about a mile, continue straight on at a fork in the path, then straight on at another fork, until you reach the edge of the wood and a gate with a view of Binns Tower. Go right on a path before the gate – keep the fence to the right about ten yards away. Lower down, you meet another path and cross a small burn. Follow the path to the left and down to the gap in a fence passed earlier. Go left, cross the footbridge and retrace your steps past the castle to the start.

IN THE AREA Blackness Castle (01506 834807, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk) is a great place to explore.

• This Article was first published in Scotland on Sunday, March 28, 2010