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A walk round Blackness Castle by the foreshore
A walk · Blackness

Blackness – Round the Ship That Never Sailed

About a mile on foot.

Blackness villageStartBlackness CastleWhere you turn

Blackness Castle stands on a point of black rock in the Firth of Forth, and from the village it looks like a stone ship run aground.

You don't need a ticket to enjoy it. A path of about a mile leaves the village by the shore road, goes round the outside of the walls and comes back over the grass or along the beach.

Time
About 45 minutes: about a mile round.
The path
Mostly unsurfaced paths, rough and uneven in places, with steps and boardwalks. The shore road to the castle is tarmac.
Where to start
The small free car park in Blackness village. The car park beside the castle is for visitors to the castle.
When to go
All year in daylight. When the tide is high, come back over the grass.
Children
A short round with a beach. Keep children off the mud flats.
Before you set out
The castle is Historic Environment Scotland's, with its own ticket and opening days.

The walk

Start at the small car park in Blackness village and take the shore road towards the castle. A low sea wall curves along beside you, with the sand and mud of the Forth below it and the castle ahead on its rock. It was built in the 15th century, and it's known as the ship that never sailed, because its walls run out into the water like a hull. The name Blackness comes from an old Norse word for the nose of black rock it stands on.

The path goes up by the castle wall and round the outside, past a ruined dovecot and chapel, then down a grass slope. From there you can come back to the village over the grass or along the beach. It's about a mile in all. The paths are rough and mostly unsurfaced, with steps and boardwalks in places, so wear boots.

When the tide is high, come back by the grass, and stay off the mud flats at any time. Going inside the castle needs its own ticket.

If it rains

The shore is open to the wind off the Forth and the steps and boardwalks get slippery. In heavy rain, walk the shore road to the castle and back.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    West End Muse13 miles awayWest End MuseSleeps 4Moment George IV Bridge13 miles awayMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2Old Town Chambers13 miles awayOld Town ChambersA place to stayThe Scott Hotel14 miles awayThe Scott HotelA hotel
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.