It's just one of many royal palaces in Scotland, only this one was used as a nursery. It just…read morehappens to be where Mary, Queen of Scots was born on 8 Dec 1542. There's a statue of her in the park in front of the palace. It's a very peaceful place to be near a loch of the same name. Linlithgow is said to translate to "lake in the damp (or moist) hallow." Well, it totally makes sense due to the rainy climate. There was a public warning notice about high concentrations of blue-green algae in the lake. So, don't let your pets swim in it. Otherwise, it's nice to get a view of it when walking along the trails. We were there early in the morning for a little walk around the outside of the palace. The entrance gate in particular was in a prison scene from the Outlander TV Series. The castle looks whole from the outside, but in actuality it's missing a roof. There is an £11 admission fee to go inside as of Nov 2025. There's also a free audio guide that you can download from their website. It's very well-done in the way of showing and describing what it once looked like back in the 16th century while giving its history. Another thing to note is that it's free to visit St. Michael's Parish Church where Mary, Queen of Scots was baptized. One could easily spend an hour or so here just wandering around Linlithgow Peel. It was too short of a visit for us, but well worth a stop just to see the exterior and learn about the history here.

Linlithgow Palace was another of the palaces we visited while on our British Isles cruise. This…read morepalace is located about 15 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland. Are you fans of the tv series Outlander? If you are, then you may recognize some parts of Linlithgow Palace that was featured in the series. Admission price is not too high, and the audio tour comes with the price of admission making it an even better deal. So if you've seen one castle, then you have seen them all right? Wrong because they are not all the same. Linlithgow Palace was not one of my favorites, but it was still a sight to admire and explore. Have fun learning about this historical landmark.

Loch Leven Castle lies tucked away from the world. A hidden jewel!…read moreHowever, I would guess that Mary, Queen of Scots would have thought differently during her imprisonment there for a year and loosing her twins in the progress of events outside her reach. The view towards the castle from the restaurant and coffee shop as well as Historic Scotland membership cottage is breath taking. There is no walkway to the castle and you need to book a boat/ferry trip in advance. A small ferry goes every hour and if you miss a time slot you can use the time to either eat in the restaurant or go for a walk. Presumably the castle was build during the 13th century and played its part during the Wars of Independence. It changed hands between the Bruce and the Douglas families. Nowadays it is a ruin and you can walk around the island to your own merit. I will definitely be back.

Built in 1761, the Pineapple was a birthday present for the Earl of Dunmore's wife, Susan, daughter…read moreof the 9th Duke of Hamilton. Because nothing says 'Happy Birthday' more than an exotic fruit-topped summerhouse! Now belonging to the National Trust of Scotland, the Pineapple really is an odd sight to see. The building itself is large and regal; the pineapple on top the evident show stealer. It is every bit as eccentric as it sounds and really worth the trip to visit and wander the grounds. When we visited during a group cycle, there was some ongoing maintenance at the front of the building. But this was alright. - We could still see the pineapple! You can rent out the Pineapple which I imagine would be quite the experience. I like to think that, back in the day, it was host to some epic Gatsby-esque parties, sipping on gin and partying like it's 1761. Because when faced with several invitations, I've no doubt that it was this pineapple adorned estate which people chose to rock up at. I wish I could time-travel back to see! Why did the exotic fruit-on-house thing never catch on? I'd totally want a mango-adorned house.

Beautiful house & well kept gardens & nature pond.read more

These spectacular Italianate buildings (splendid both inside and out) were finished in 1886 and the…read morebeautiful Victoria Tower (75m in height) can be seen dominating the skyline from many parts of the town. Unfortunately, the Municipal Buildings remain uncompleted to this day as a local man, Robert Cowan, refused to sell his business in front of the tower. As a result, the shop was inserted into one corner but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941, leaving the unusual effect still seen today. The bricks are different to the rest and this area has become known as 'Cowan's Corner'. These days the Municipal Buildings include the Town Hall and various Council offices. There are a few parking spaces nearby but it's very difficult to find a space. However, there is a large public car park only about 5 minutes walk away.

Glamis Castle is a beautiful castle in Angus, Scotland, that is currently lived in by Simon…read moreBowes-Lyon, 19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, who succeeded to the earldom in 2016. Therefore, no photos of the castle were allowed during the tour. Pictures were allowed in the waiting area prior to the tour as well as in a room at the end of the tour. There was plenty of information provided on the history of the family and castle. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Mother) lived here, and her daughter, Princess Margaret, was born at Glamis Castle. It was also home to Queen Elizabeth II. This castle was the inspiration for William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Overall, the castle, gardens, and grounds were well maintained. When we got to the castle, we had to stand in a line to get in. The weather was on and off drizzly. However, the tour was well worth the wait. There is a gift shop and coffee shop. Glamis Castle has many beautiful gardens accessible to the public and are not a part of the tour. Weddings and other events are held at Glamis Castle.

This was a nice photogenic castle to visit, on the exterior anyway as no photos were allowed…read moreinside. It's located in the countryside about 30 minutes to the north of the town of Dundee. It was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth. The grounds around the castle are open and well maintained as there is nothing else in the vicinity of the castle. Our tour group also had a nice little soup and sandwich lunch here in their on-site restaurant.

I agree with the previous reviewer wholeheartedly. Ross Priory is one of the most overlooked…read morebuildings in Scotland. It is absolutely incredible. A must for visitors to Glasgow. Even the drink prices at the bar are reasonable. The only problem is, the priory is not anywhere near a train station. So you bring your car or get a train to Balloch then a taxi.

Beautiful architecture, a perfect setting, and several guest rooms make this a sublime wedding…read morevenue on Loch Lomond.

Linlithgow has long been known for its wells. There's an old rhyme which begins, 'Glasgow for…read morebells, Lithgow for wells' There are several ancient wells still to be found here, including Dog Well, New Well, Lion Well and St Michael's Well. This last is surmounted with the 1720 (perhaps earlier) statue of St Michael with the words underneath, St Michael is kinde to strangers. It's very worn (as you'd expect) and isn't used as a well any more. The saint is holding a shield bearing the town's coat of arms: a black dog, chained to an oak tree on an island, probably in the middle of Linlithgow Loch. St Michael is the patron saint of Linlithgow Church and also the burgh.

For historians, even those whose knowledge of Scottish "history" (used loosely) stems from multiple…read moreviewings of Braveheart (yeah, you know who you are!), there are several sites in Stirling that are must visits. The Old Stirling Bridge is one of them; the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle being at least two others. Fortunately, Stirling isn't all that big, and you can easily walk between the three without too much effort, and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous river views, and a bit of actual historical education along the way, for your trouble. Just make sure you end up on the Old Stirling Bridge, and not the adjacent A9 overpass. It may look similar, but you wouldn't want to get run over by a lorry while daydreaming about Mel Gibson in a kilt and wielding a claymore. That would just be weird.

I thought I would have been able to walk to this while at Stirling castle but it looked quite a…read morewalk away so I optedW to snatch some quick photos while driving past on the coach which was just as thrilling for me as actually being on it and it is a stunning bridge as bridges go due to its history. Hopefully one day I might get the chance to actually stand on it, touch it, feel it but for now I'm happy to have this stunning photo.

I've been there not so long ago and I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants to get away from…read morethe city rush but not move away from the city itself. Large gardens with lots of footpaths around the castle plus stunning views over the Firth of Forth (especially on a bright and sunny day), quiet with a bit of Victorian atmosphere stil in the air. A trip for a half a day with a picnic basket higly recommended!!