Blackness Castle

Blackness · Castle

Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle sits right beside the Firth of Forth, with towers, a wall walk and a courtyard of exposed rock. It makes a memorable short stop for children who enjoy castles, provided they are happy with stairs and uneven ground.

Best for
School-age castle explorers
Cost
Paid entry; under-7s free with a ticket
Weather
Exposed; best in dry, calmer weather
Allow
Around 1–1½ hours; parking is timed

Our family take

The ship-like fortress and views across the Forth are the draw here. School-age children can enjoy the towers and wall walk, while Outlander fans will recognise the setting. Leave room for another stop in your day, and choose dry, calmer weather if you can.

  • With a pram. Gravel, rock, cobbles, steep paths and stairs make this a difficult visit. A smooth buggy route is not available.
  • Before you drive. Parking is small, for ticket holders only and time-limited. Book your visit and follow the parking limit on your confirmation.
Plan your visit View on map

The practical details

Plan your visit

Opening hours
Daily 9:30am–5pm, 1 April–30 September; 10am–4pm, 1 October–31 March. Last entry 45 minutes before closing. Closed 25–26 December and 1–2 January.
Tickets
Online admission: adult £7.50, concession £6 and child aged 7–15 £3.50. Under-7s enter free but need a ticket. In-person prices are higher. Book a timeslot for everyone, including under-7s and members.
Parking
Small, monitored car park for ticket holders only; village parking is limited. HES visitor information gives 90 minutes in summer and 75 minutes in winter. The booking page currently states 75 minutes: follow your booking confirmation and do not stay beyond your slot.
Access
Uneven rock and cobbles, steep paths and substantial staircases. Some stairs have no handrail; surfaces can be slippery when wet.
Toilets and changing
Toilets and baby changing on site. The nearest adapted toilet listed by HES is at Tesco, Link Road, Bo’ness EH51 9AN, 3.4 miles away.
Food
Self-service tea and coffee, picnic tables and benches. Bring lunch if you want to eat here.
ParkingGift shopToiletsBaby changingPacked lunch spaceBicycle Rack

Checked 5 October 2026

Visit official website

A little more detail

Make it work for your family

Towers, courtyard and Forth views

The castle is compact enough for a short wander through the courtyard, towers and stone rooms. The wall walk and pier give you views across the Forth, but reaching the upper areas means stairs.

School-age children who enjoy a castle adventure are likely to get most from it. With younger children, choose the parts they can manage and keep them close on the uneven rock and stairs.

Prams and access

This is a difficult choice if you rely on a pram or need a step-free route. The entrance drops onto natural rock, and much of the ground level is rock or cobbles. The towers and wall walk involve steep or spiral stairs, with no handrails on some sections.

An accessible parking space does not mean an accessible castle route. If access or an adapted toilet will decide the visit, read the detailed HES access advice before booking.

Read the official access details

Official visitor information

Booking and arrival

Booking a timeslot is the safest way to secure entry. Add a ticket for each under-7 even though their entry is free, and book children included in a membership too. Children must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or over.

A family of two adults and two children aged 7–15 pays £22 online at the standard rates. Your ticket does not guarantee a parking space, and the limited parking makes a long picnic afterwards awkward if you arrived by car.

Check official tickets and timeslots

Official visitor information

Weather and lunch

The waterside setting is exposed, and wet rock and cobbles can make the visit harder with children. Wear shoes with a good grip and save this stop for a drier day if slippery ground or wind would spoil the outing.

There are picnic tables and benches on the lawn, plus self-service hot drinks. Pack food if you want lunch here, or plan to eat at your next stop. A shop and water refill are available.

Other stops to consider

Edinburgh Castle offers the big city landmark and more indoor museum content. Forth Bridge is a free, flexible viewpoint stop, while Hopetoun House offers a house-and-grounds visit when its seasonal opening suits your dates.

Car-free visits, accessible arrival and dogs
Dogs
Dogs are welcome throughout the castle and grounds except the shop. Assistance dogs are permitted in all areas.
Public transport
The F49 from Linlithgow to Bo’ness stops in Blackness Square, 0.3 miles from the castle, and does not run at weekends. Check the current timetable before planning a car-free visit.
Car-free discount
HES offers 25% off standard admission when booking online with GOOD25 and arriving car-free. Show your bus/train ticket or bike on arrival.
Accessible arrival
One accessible parking space, first come first served, unsuitable for larger vehicles. Drop-off at the entrance is possible; the visitor centre has three steps and the castle approach includes a steep, uneven path.
Carers
Visitors with disabilities pay the standard admission rate. Up to two accompanying carers enter free per transaction; proof of disability is not required.

Other ways to visit

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Nearby stop

Forth Bridge

Engineering | South Queensferry

Free South Queensferry viewpoint and waterfront option when you want Forth views without castle tickets or stairs.

Nearby stop

Hopetoun House

House | South Queensferry

House-and-grounds alternative nearby when a more estate-style visit suits the family better.

Visit and directions

Visit website Get directions Contact Blackness Castle