Kinneil Estate (1 mile)
Kinneil Estate is situated on the western edge of Bo'ness, around a mile and a half from the town centre. The mansion house was saved from complete demolition in 1936 after the discovery of wall paintings dating from the 16th century. Occasional guided tours are organised and the exact dates can be found on the website. Make sure you visit the adjacent museum which is open all year round (closed on Tuesdays) and has excellent displays about the history of the town and estate, including the industrial and Roman heritage.
Walk around the side of the house, passing the remains of a cottage where world-famous engineer James Watt did some of his early work. Although Watt didn't invent the steam engine, he significantly improved the concept to make it a commercially viable proposition. Follow the path over a stream and past a pond to arrive at the remains of a Roman fort. This mile-castle was once part of the Antonine Wall which ran across central Scotland. Only the basic outline is discernible today. Also scout out the remains of Kinneil Church, accidentally burned down in 1745 while occupied by soldiers during the Jacobite uprising.
After exploring the estate, you may wish to have a wander around Bo'ness town centre. There are several traditional shops and nice walks around the harbour. The Hippodrome Cinema is Scotland's oldest picture house and the heritage steam railway runs for much of the year. The attached Museum of Scottish Railways is open every day from the middle of March until the end of November and has an excellent collection.
The Corbie Inn is just 500 yards from the town centre and serves several real ales in top condition as well as offering a hearty selection of pub grub.
