Just 20 minutes on the train from Edinburgh is Linlithgow Palace, the birth place of Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s now a ruined shell, but nevertheless possesses a distinguished, stately air.
When I first stepped into the palace, I entered the courtyard above and at first glance it didn’t look as though there’d be much to see or that it would take long to tour.
But as I began to explore the old palace, it turned out there were countless nooks, crannies, rooms, stairways and passages to discover, and it was something of an unexpected maze.
Going up a narrow flight of stairs not sure where I’d end up, only to find I was in a giant hall or another dark passage with another set of stairs at the end of it, was great fun.
It’s not until I started wandering around that I realised the palace is much bigger than it appears from the outside, it also boasts scenic views over Linlithgow Loch and the surrounding park. Definitely worth a half-day trip if you’re visiting Edinburgh.
Info
Linlithgow Palace, Kirkgate, Linlithgow, West Lothian EH49 7AL
Open 9.30am-5.30pm (1 Apr-30 Sept), 10am-4pm (1 Oct-31 Mar)
Adults £5.50, Children £3.30, Concessions £4.40
historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace/
Little Old World 