{"id":1858,"date":"2020-01-13T20:58:26","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T20:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=1858"},"modified":"2022-03-09T15:07:34","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T15:07:34","slug":"boness-the-five-minute-spare-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/boness-the-five-minute-spare-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Bo\u2019ness: The Five Minute Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bo\u2019ness for short.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s tongue, to be lazy with our words. We shorten things and add a \u2018y\u2019, call it a nickname and be done with it. We\u2019re just lazy speakers. Like the French but with more \u2018rrrrr\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Bo\u2019ness is both in the Falkirk council area and situated in West Lothian. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The name of this town has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English for Beornweard\u2019s Farm, a hamlet in the area. This is a distinctly strange name for the area since it is obviously Viking in foundation\u2026 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<\/a>. To this day, they are still finding Roman (and earlier) artefacts in the area.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t do that. Leaving holes in the countryside is also bad for sheep so be considerate.<\/p>\n

The Murray<\/a> clan and the Stewart<\/a> clan are native to this area. You will also find Carnegies<\/a> is in the area. The area thrived during the industrial area as a small harbour, constructed in the 16th<\/sup> century, brought in solid trade.<\/p>\n

If you want to retire to a pretty coastal town without the exposure to the elements you find in the crags of the Highlands \u2013 you do it in Bo\u2019ness. But what else can you do there? Let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n

Bo\u2019ness At-a-Glance<\/h2>\n

Beautiful Bo\u2019ness has a fair few attractions. As well as proximity to Edinburgh<\/a> and being the perfect residence for commuters; what else does it have going for it? Here\u2019s the Five Minutes Spare<\/a> take on things.<\/p>\n

Kinneil House and Museum<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kinneil Estate is a beautifully preserved manor house, supposedly haunted by a ghost<\/a>. 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<\/sup> century house and gardens are enough to bring people in, but they also added a museum that\u2019s worthy of an afternoon or two.<\/p>\n

The Bo\u2019ness \u2013 Kinneil Railway<\/a><\/p>\n

Scotland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 and according to most of the locals. Set aside the full day for the trip\u2026 it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

Bo\u2019ness Motor Museum<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019ness if you have young kids obsessed with cars…although we hear that big kids love it almost as much.<\/p>\n

The Hippodrome<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking for something to do in the Bo\u2019ness 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\u2019ness\u2026 if you\u2019re underage, anyway.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat, Drink, or Party in Bo\u2019ness?<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s caf\u00e9<\/a> or the Railway museum caf\u00e9<\/a> are ideal. Barleo<\/a> is a nice Italian with a great wine list, but if you want a proper pub to drink in then try the Learig<\/a> or the Corbie Inn<\/a>, either will provide you with a solid pint.<\/p>\n

Since you are so close to the city of Edinburgh nightlife shouldn\u2019t be a consideration. A taxi won\u2019t 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\u2026 there really is no excuse.<\/p>\n

Other Notable Attractions<\/h2>\n

Since you are in the area, you should try to see some of our other best bits while you are there. Check out:<\/p>\n