Kinneil Estate is a historical park on the western edge of Bo’ness in central Scotland.
It’s dominated by Kinneil House, a large, imposing mansion, dating back to the 15th century. It boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland, and even has a resident ghost. The House is open six times a year for free tours, organised by the charity The Friends of Kinneil. At other times visitors can tour the grounds. See www.kinneil.org.uk for details.
Kinneil Museum, in front of the House, is a good place to start a visit to Kinneil. The museum is normally open six days a week, throughout the year, from Monday to Saturdays, from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. It features a shop, audio visual show, displays and artefacts dating back to Roman Times.
The Estate also features the ruins of a 12th century church, a cottage used by inventor James Watt - and the remains of a Roman fortlet. The Antonine Wall, part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, runs through Kinneil. Look out for special Roman events and the area’s Big Roman Week, usually run in September each year.
You can also visit the surrounding acres of woodland and two ponds at Kinneil – and see coots, buzzards and swans – plus many other animals. There are occasional guided walks through the park. Check with Kinneil Museum for details. (In addition Step Forth runs health walks around the estate, usually three times a week. See www.kinneil.org.uk/walk for details – or ask at the Museum to find out more.