Route 7 – John Muir Way Linlithgow to South Queensferry

Length: 14 miles

Route type: 1-way+public transport

Difficulty: Medium

The John Muir Way is a meandering 134-mile, coast to coast route stretching across lowland Scotland. One of Scotland’s great trails, it includes a cycle route which runs through the Falkirk area on its way east to Edinburgh.

Join the John Muir Way at Linlithgow Bridge for a fascinating cycle to South Queensferry. The route takes you down back roads towards the Firth of Forth and the historic town of Bo’ness. As you peddle, you’ll come across Kinneil House and Estate on the edge of the town. From Roman times to the industrial revolution, the remnants of a long and rich history can be seen everywhere as you cycle through its grounds. Continue through Kinneil Local Nature Reserve to the Bo’ness foreshore. You’ll pass sculptures celebrating the industrial past of the town, the Bo’ness Hippodrome, Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema and still in use today, and steam trains thundering along the track at Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, a working heritage railway.

Cycle on along the Bo’ness foreshore, passing the Bridgeness Slab which marks the eastern end of the Roman Antonine Wall. From there, continue on to the formidable fifteenth century fortress of Blackness Castle. Nicknamed ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its unique shape, it has been a royal castle, a prison, and a garrison. Now, it is a popular tourist attraction and a filming location that you might recognise from the global hit period drama, Outlander.

From there, your journey takes you through the beautiful Hopetoun House Estate, featuring one of Scotland’s finest stately homes. Finally, you’ll arrive at South Queensferry and its three spectacular bridges across the Forth. 

 

Map location: EH49 7PT

View route (external website)