Bo’ness for short.
On the beautiful banks of the Firth of Forth, you will find the tranquil, pretty, picturesque town of Borrowstounness and now you know why it gets shortened. It is a common thing, in the Scot’s tongue, to be lazy with our words. We shorten things and add a ‘y’, call it a nickname and be done with it. We’re just lazy speakers. Like the French but with more ‘rrrrr’s.
Bo’ness is both in the Falkirk council area and situated in West Lothian. It’s only a handful of miles from Edinburgh, so if you are staying here you have access to the range of nightclubs, shops and restaurants that you find there.
The name of this town has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English for Beornweard’s Farm, a hamlet in the area. This is a distinctly strange name for the area since it is obviously Viking in foundation… but it has been on the maps since Roman times. There is actually a Roman fort at the Kinneil Estate in the area, which all lies on the Antonine Wall. To this day, they are still finding Roman (and earlier) artefacts in the area.
This, of course, means that metal detectorists are having a ball here at the moment. We will caution that historical sites are illegal to actually dig up without permission so don’t do that. Leaving holes in the countryside is also bad for sheep so be considerate.
The Murray clan and the Stewart clan are native to this area. You will also find Carnegies is in the area. The area thrived during the industrial area as a small harbour, constructed in the 16th century, brought in solid trade.
If you want to retire to a pretty coastal town without the exposure to the elements you find in the crags of the Highlands – you do it in Bo’ness. But what else can you do there? Let’s find out!
Bo’ness At-a-Glance
Beautiful Bo’ness has a fair few attractions. As well as proximity to Edinburgh and being the perfect residence for commuters; what else does it have going for it? Here’s the Five Minutes Spare take on things.
The Kinneil Estate is a beautifully preserved manor house, supposedly haunted by a ghost. Lady Alice Lilbourne fell from the top floor rooms to her death, and legend has it that she never left. Nowadays this historic parkland attracts thousands of visitors, every year. The 17th century house and gardens are enough to bring people in, but they also added a museum that’s worthy of an afternoon or two.
Scotland’s largest railway museum has every recorded detail there is about railway heritage in Scotland. The line operates as a steam train running between the two destinations, which also has a restaurant car, some beautiful countryside, and some good old-fashioned coal shovellers in the boiler room.
This is a once-in-a-Scotland chance to see a real, fully functioning steam train. You can visit from April-October on any day that the weather allows. It is the top-rated attraction in this area according to Trip Advisor – and according to most of the locals. Set aside the full day for the trip… it’s worth it.
Borrostounness also has its very own motor museum, with a distinctive preference towards classical era cars. The cars featured are associated with the likes of James Bond, although it is a little smaller than the bigger transport museums in Edinburgh. This is one of the best things to do in Bo’ness if you have young kids obsessed with cars…although we hear that big kids love it almost as much.
Looking for something to do in the Bo’ness area with the kids? The Hippodrome is ideal. It is the biggest cinema in town and an ideal place to let them loose with twenty bucks. There are regular screenings of all your favourite films complete with plenty of popcorn and pick-a-mix galore. It is the perfect way to spend a Saturday night in Bo’ness… if you’re underage, anyway.
Where to Eat, Drink, or Party in Bo’ness?
So if you are here for a few days, where do you get the best grub? If you are looking for a coffee and a quick sandwich then either Corvi’s café or the Railway museum café are ideal. Barleo is a nice Italian with a great wine list, but if you want a proper pub to drink in then try the Learig or the Corbie Inn, either will provide you with a solid pint.
Since you are so close to the city of Edinburgh nightlife shouldn’t be a consideration. A taxi won’t cost more than fifteen pounds and trains run late into the night. You can even catch a bus home at silly hours in the morning. Get out there and explore the city… there really is no excuse.
Other Notable Attractions
Since you are in the area, you should try to see some of our other best bits while you are there. Check out:
- The Bo’ness Old Kirk – it’s not that old, a couple of hundred years maybe… but it features that imitation gothic architecture that we all know and love.
- The Carriden Old Church and Graveyard – an even older church. There are lots of those.
- Get a tour of the Kinneil Brew Hoose – the local distillery. All Scottish towns have one of those, too. What shall we do with this freshwater spring? Turn it to whiskey!
There’s Linlithgow Palace in the area, as well as access to Edinburgh. If you are looking for some free exercise go a day trip and climb Arthur’s Seat. It’s got some stunning views and it tires the children out for the day.
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