Blackness Castle – Blackness Castle loop from Abercorn

Hiking trails & Routes

Blackness Castle – Blackness Castle loop from Abercorn

Moderate

4.5

(14)

162

hikers

Blackness Castle – Blackness Castle loop from Abercorn

02:42

10.3km

90m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.

Last updated: November 5, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Guest House

Get Directions

1.20 km

Abercorn Parish Church and Churchyard

Highlight • Religious Site

Signs from the A904 a couple of miles west of Queensferry and the south end of the Forth Road Bridge point visitors to Abercorn Church. The signs lead you to the tiny hamlet of Abercorn and to the walled drive leading to the gates of Abercorn Parish Church.

The church is instantly appealing. Your first view is of its south side, across a large churchyard surrounded by trees. The nave is largely obscured by a series of aisles projecting to the south, the most easterly of which gives a clear indication that at least some of the church is very old.

This is the Duddingston Aisle, which comes with a date of 1603 carved into its external wall. But it is all too easy to overlook a nearby indication that part of the church goes back much, much further. This is the blocked up doorway in the south wall of the church, immediately to the east of the Philipstoun burial enclosure. Complete with its understandably faded chevron decoration, the doorway has been dated to the 1100s, when it probably gave access to a small two celled church.

Tip by

1.30 km

Abercorn Church and Graveyard

Highlight • Historical Site

Abercorn Church is situated in a peaceful spot surrounded by trees. While the majority of the church dates from the 17th century, parts are much older, including a now-blocked doorway that dates to the 12th century.

Tip by

1.75 km

Abercorn Beach

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great view of the three bridges and out across the Firth of Forth. A good gravel track runs along the coast from Bo'ness to Queensferry.

Tip by

3.42 km

View of Blackness Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

4.98 km

Blackness Castle

Highlight • Castle

Blackness Castle is perched right on the shore of the Firth of Forth.

Just like many other historical buildings in this part of Scotland, it has featured in the popular TV series Outlander.

Visit the castle to find out more about the history of the powerful Crichton family, this stronghold built for war and kept as a noble residence for the family.

Check out more at historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/blackness-castle

Tip by

5.17 km

Pier at Blackness Castle

Highlight • Bridge

Here the ships landed, suppling goods for the castle. From here you have a stunning view over the Forth and the bridges.

Tip by

5.17 km

Blackness Castle

Highlight • Monument

Blackness Castle is a fortress that was built in the 15th century. Despite initially being a decadent residence for the Crichtons, one of Scotland’s more powerful families, the castle went on to become a royal palace in 1453, a garrison fortress, a state prison, and an ammunition depot in the 19th century. Blackness Castle is often called ‘the ship that never sailed’ as it looks like a grounded stone ship from the seaward side.

Tip by

5.84 km

Abercorn Bay Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Lovely easy riding Sustrans trail through the woods. Higher up there is a another trail that you can use to loop round that pops out by Mid Hope Castle.

Tip by

10.3 km

End point

Guest House

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.56 km

2.06 km

1.32 km

342 m

Surfaces

6.69 km

2.06 km

1.20 km

156 m

137 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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Highest point (70 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 6 November

11°C

7°C

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Comments

September 8, 2024,Schottland: "Outlander" Route. Midhope Castle - Blackness Castle über Abercorn

We started from the Midhope Castle car park. As Outlander fans, we also paid £7.50 to get to "Lallybroch". By chance, we passed Abercorn Church as we continued on, with a wonderful (if you can call it that) cemetery with ancient graves. Almost a bit mystical. Our route took us along a forest path along the coast to Blackness Castle. …

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May 26, 2025,Wanderung Blackness Castle zum Hopetoun House

The best comes last, as they always say.

The hike begins in the village of Blackness, from where you make your way to the castle. The imposing fortress, often referred to as the "ship that never sailed," provides a magnificent backdrop for the start. From here, the trail leads along the coast, through forests, and over rolling hills. The views …

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