Blackness Castle – the Ship That Never Sailed, and Lunch
A few hours.
The route
Blackness Castle juts out into the Firth of Forth on a spit of rock, and from the shore it looks like a great stone ship run aground, which is why it's called the ship that never sailed.
Give it an hour on its towers and walls, then have lunch at the Lobster Pot, the village pub in the square.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book Blackness Castle
Book a timed ticket for Blackness Castle on Historic Environment Scotland's site before you go, and check its opening days there: the small car park beside the castle is for ticket holders only, with a 90-minute stay in summer and 75 minutes in winter.
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The day
Blackness
It's a morning on the walls of a castle in the sea, with the Forth's bridges in view. Up the towers and along the walkways, out to the prow, then round to the village square for lunch.
About two and a half hoursAbout 0.5 miles on foot
Blackness Castle
An attraction
Book a timed ticket with Historic Environment Scotland first, as the small car park beside the castle is for ticket holders only, with a limit of 90 minutes in summer and 75 in winter, so give the castle about an hour. Built in the 15th century as a home for the Crichtons, Blackness was made into an artillery fort and state prison by James V from 1537. Its three towers are named the stem, the main mast and the stern, and its pointed prow runs out into the water. Climb the towers and walk the curtain wall for the view up the Forth to its bridges. Keep small children close on the walls. Dogs are welcome everywhere except the shop.
The Lobster Pot
Lunch
Then it's a minute's drive into the village square to the Lobster Pot, which reopened in 2019 after eleven years shut. It's open every day from noon, serving lunch and dinner, with soft ice cream in its little shop. The last food orders are at 7pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays and 8pm on other days. It is said to be step-free and to welcome children and dogs; ring ahead to check. There's a small car park in the village.
If it rains
The castle's towers give some shelter, but the walls and the courtyard are open to the weather and the firth's wind. On a wet day, see the castle briskly and let lunch at the Lobster Pot run long.