Strawberry Bank House is located in the centre of Linlithgow and is ideally situated for touring throughout Scotland. The tourist attractions are too numerous to mention but we have tried to list some here which may be of interest.

The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow is a beautiful town with it's historic Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots and her father, James V which overlooks the loch. The Linlithgow Story, situated in Annet House in the High Street tells the story of Linlithgow.

The Linlithgow Canal Centre is only a two minute walk from Strawberry Bank House and has a museum, tea room and, of course, you can take a boat trip along the canal to the Falkirk Wheel. In addition to the canal boat trips, boat trips on the River Forth can be taken from South Queensferry, approximately ten miles from Strawberry Bank House, where Inchcolm Abbey can be visited on Inchcolm Island and spectacular views of the Forth Bridges can be had.

From nearby Rosyth Harbour you can take the Ferry crossing to Zeebrugge in Belgium. Located in North Queensferry, across the Forth Bridge, is Deep Sea World the National Aquarium of Scotland where you can walk along the bottom of the ocean as sharks glide only inches above your head in the world’s longest underwater viewing tunnel. A great day out for all of the family!

Only four miles from Linlithgow is Bo'ness where you can enjoy a trip on the steam trains at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. The trains run along the Forth where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and visit the Birkhill Caverns Fire Clay Mine.

For those who enjoy walking, there are four country parks in the area - Almondell and Calderwood Country Park, Beecraigs Country Park, Muiravonside Country Park and Polkemmet Country Park.

Other outside pursuits in the area include :-

• Golf
• Golf Driving Range & Laser Clays
• Fishing (Loch & River)
• Cycling
• Pony Trekking
• Hill Walking
• Rock Climbing
• Swimming
• Canoeing
• Motor Racing and 4X4 Driving
• Ratho Adventure Centre

There are also a number of historic houses in the area. The House of the Binns and Culross Palace are National Trust properties, Dalmeny House and Hopetoun House are in private ownership and open to the public. Blackness Castle, a 15th century stronghold building situated in the old port which then served Linlithgow, is in the guardianship of Historic Scotland.

Stirling is approximately 30 minutes from Strawberry Bank House and offers a number of attractions. Stirling Castle is in the guardianship of Historic Scotland, and the National Wallace Monument, Old Town Jail and Bannockburn Heritage Centre are also well worth a visit.

Those of you who love animals will enjoy visiting Edinburgh Zoo as well as Blair Drummond Safari Park west of Stirling and also the Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World to the south west of Edinburgh. Edinburgh is within easy travelling distance of Linlithgow by car or train. There you can enjoy the many sites of the historical city which includes many art galleries and museums all within easy travel of the city centre.

The city is dominated by the historical Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Two other popular attractions include the Royal Yacht Britannia which is situated in the Port of Leith about 15 minutes from the city centre and Our Dynamic Earth which is situated adjacent to Holyrood Palace and the site of the new Scottish Parliament building. Other attractions in Edinburgh are ;-

• Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• Edinburgh Ghost Walks
• Edinburgh Hogmanay Party

Finally, for those who enjoy shopping, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Falkirk and Livingston all provide excellent shopping centres. The McArthur Glen Designer Outlet at Livingston, which is the largest in Scotland, is within easy reach from Linlithgow. Other well known shopping attractions are listed below:-

• Edinburgh, South Gyle Centre
• Edinburgh, Princess Street
• Edinburgh, St James Centre
• Freeport Designer Outlet Village Livingston,
• McArthur Glen Shopping Centre Tillicoultry Sterling,
• Sterling Mills Designer Outlet Stirling,
• Thistle Centre Falkirk,
• Callander Shopping Centre Falkirk,
• The Howgate Centre,
• Penicuick Crystal Centre

Stawberry Bank house, 13 avon place, linlithgow, near edinburgh, scotland, eh49 6bl
+44 (0) 1506 848372
email: gillian@strawberrybank-scotland.co.uk