Parking at Blackness is limited and we should arrange car sharing as far as possible. This can be arranged either from the Stirling end or by meeting at e.g. Hopetoun Garden Centre leaving cars in their car park and taking car(s) the couple of miles to Blackness where there are public toilets.
The walk is on fairly level paths going past Blackness Castle to the grounds of Hopetoun House (note that this is a different place from Hopetoun Garden Centre) with a detour to visit Abercorn Church. If the tide is out we can return via the pebble shore and when we get back to Blackness there is the option to walk on towards Bo’ness (or there is a pub at Blackness for refreshments !!).
Blackness to Hopetoun is approx 3 miles (6 miles return) and the path may be muddy in places. If people want to visit the House and Gardens (concession ticket is £11 but see their website) they could make their own way back along the path to Blackness. There is also an option to continue from Hopetoun House another 2 or 3 miles to South Queensferry but this would make it a long walk, in excess of 10 miles in total.
Lots of options on this walk - please let Peter know if you intend to come - peter.fairweather@hotmail.co.uk