Participants: Neil and Ben (loch walk only)
Where: Binns Hill, 113m/371', Tump, OS 65, NT 053786
A half day walk today- we went to Linlithgow and had a walk round the loch followed by a visit to Binns Hill, a Tump and another hill with a tower on top of it. The loch is a good stroll of just over 2 miles on a well surfaced path with great views of Linlithgow Palace.....
It's very popular at weekends but was nice and quiet today and I was able to stop and note the many species of birds that live on the loch. Ben went too close to a nesting swan and got hissed at for his trouble; I've never seen a dog jump backwards in alarm before!
It was a short drive from Linlithgow to Binns Hill which is part of the estate of the same name now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. There appears to have been a manor house here since the 15th century. The estate was purchased by the Dalyell family in 1612 and they have lived here ever since, although the house and grounds were given to the NTS to look after in 1944. The most recent famous Dalyell was Sir Tam MP who died recently. I didn't have time today but I must do the tour next time I'm here.
It was only a short walk from the car park at the house to the hill on a marked path through woodland. The hill is topped by Binns tower- a folly erected in 1826.....
There were others at the folly......
It was a day of clear atmosphere which is why I came and the views were good for so small a hill. Looking to the Pentlands behind Edinburgh.....
North across the Forth to Fife.....
Blackness castle, the Forth and Fife.....
Up the Forth to the Perthshire hills. You can just make out Ben Ledi, Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich.....
An excellent short walk with lots of interest.
1 comment:
It's one of my favourite walks around that loch and the big house had or still has magnificent peacocks striding around the grounds. Beautiful part of the country.
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