📌 Blackness, West Lothian
★★★
The House of the Binns is a grand country home set on the side of a hill (or ben – which became corrupted to give the name “Binns”) above the tidal Forth close to Blackness Castle. Unique among National Trust for Scotland attractions, the property is still home to the family who originally built it: the Dalyells, who have lived here for over 400 years. All tours (which now have to be booked in advance) are fully guided, fully accompanied by the screeching of the estate’s resident peacocks, and designed so you visit the most impressive rooms towards the end. Among the highlights are some particularly fine ceilings, commissioned for an expected visit of Charles I in 1633 (which never came to fruition!). Sadly, photography wasn’t permitted inside on our last visit. Afterwards it’s worth taking the short hike up to the estate’s highest point at Binns Tower. This folly was allegedly the result of a wager over who could come up with the most frivolous way to waste a load of money – the tower being the winning suggestion.
🌍 Location
📌 Off the A904 1 mi south of Blackness
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 051786
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.990652,-3.523100
🚌 Bus stops on A904, near entrance to grounds but 0.5 mi from the house
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ House open daily, June to August; Thursday to Monday, 9 March to May 2024 & September to October – by prebooked guided tour only. Grounds: daily
🎫 House: £12.50 adult / £7.50 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members. Grounds: free
