Built in the 15th century and massively strengthened in the 16th century as an artillery fortress, Blackness Castle has been a royal castle, prison, armaments depot and film location for Hamlet and the BBC production of Ivanhoe.
Blackness Castle is often referred to as ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its great stone ship appearance. From the castle you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Firth of Forth and Fife.
There are display boards around the lawn although uneven ground and cobbles make it difficult for visitors using wheelchairs. There are gravel paths around the lawn and there is some fine shrubbery in the grounds.
Please note, the car park has limited spaces and will be monitored. It is only available for those that have booked tickets to visit the castle and its grounds.
Blackness Castle on the silver screen
Mary Queen of Scots
In Mary Queen of Scots (2018), starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, Blackness Castle featured as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the place where she married Lord Darnley and where her secretary and good friend David Rizzio was murdered.
Find more filming locations and historic sites on the Mary Queen of Scots map.
Outlaw King filming location
In Outlaw King (2018), starring Chris Pine as King Robert the Bruce, Blackness Castle features as the Yorkshire castle where Bruce’s wife, Elizabeth, is imprisoned.
Find more filming locations and historic sites on the Outlaw King map.
Outlander film location
This impressive fortress provides the setting for the Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall as well as featuring in the heart-wrenching scene of Jamie’s incarceration.
*Outlander is the TV adaptation of the critically acclaimed time travel romance and fantasy adventure novels by American writer Diana Gabaldon. It centres around the story of Claire Randall (played by Caitriona Balfe), a married English combat nurse from 1945 who, while on her second honeymoon in Inverness, is mysteriously swept back in time to the 18th-century Scottish Highlands. There she meets Jamie (played by Sam Heughan), a chivalrous young warrior, with whom she becomes romantically entwined.
To find out more about the series and its Scottish connections, go to www.visitscotland.com/outlander
Save with an Explorer Pass
An Explorer Pass, valid for 14 consecutive days, is a great way to explore our iconic sites.
We advise checking ahead if the forecast is poor or if you are making a long journey. From Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm short-term closures are listed on our closures page. At the weekends and on bank holidays this page will not be updated, and any unexpected closures will be posted only on X (formerly Twitter) using #HSclosure. If you have an urgent enquiry related to a site closure and your booking over the weekend please get in touch with ticketing@hes.scot
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