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House of the Binns accessibility guide
This fascinating 17th-century laird’s house on the outskirts of Linlithgow is surrounded by beautifully landscaped parkland.
On this page:
Welcome
Contact for accessibility enquiries: Helen Knox, Visitor Services Manager
Email: houseofthebinns@nts.org.uk
Tel: 01506 830175
Web: House of the Binns
We offer a complimentary ticket policy for personal carers.
At a glance
There is level access to:
- The ground floor of the house (there is one step on the ground floor tour route, but this can be avoided by wheelchair users)
- Toilet facilities (when the house is open)
Bariatric wheelchairs and mobility scooters can access three rooms in the house, due to narrow corridors.
The upper storey of the house is accessed via a single flight stone staircase with 18 steps and is not accessible for wheelchairs.
There is a folder of photographs of the High Hall and King’s Bedroom for those who cannot access the upper storey.
Mobile signal
There is generally good mobile reception at our main car park and on the wider estate. In an emergency between 9am–5pm, please ring 01506 830175. If you receive no answer or the emergency occurs outside of these times, please call 999.
Signal is limited inside the house.
Dogs
- Assistance dogs are welcome in the house and the wider estate.
- All dogs are welcome on the wider estate but we ask that they are kept on a short lead and under close control, as peafowl roam in front of the house all year round and livestock is present in the grounds.
- Please do not take your dog into the parkland when there are lambs or calves present.
Getting here
House of the Binns
Linlithgow
West Lothian
EH49 7NA
By car
The House of the Binns is situated approximately 4 miles from Linlithgow town centre on the A904.
From the south (Edinburgh): Take the A902 towards the Forth Bridges and merge onto the A90/M90. Before the Queensferry Crossing, take the A904 exit towards Bo’ness and Linlithgow. Follow the signs for the House of the Binns, which is approximately 5 miles along the road on the right-hand side, just before the turning to Blackness.
From the north (M90): Leave the M90 at Junction 1A, just over the Queensferry Crossing, and take the A904. Follow the signs to the House of the Binns as above.
From the north (M9): Leave the M9 at Junction 2 and take the B8046 exit to Kincardine Bridge/Uphall/A904. Turn left onto the B8406. After approximately 1 mile, turn left onto the A904. The entrance to the House of the Binns is just a little way ahead, on the right-hand side.
From the west (Glasgow): Leave the M8 at Junction 13. Use the 2 left lanes to take the M80 exit to Stirling/Kincardine Bridge. Continue onto the M80. Keep left at the fork to continue on the M876, and follow the signs for Kincardine Bridge/Falkirk/Grangemouth. Merge onto the M9. Leave at Junction 2 and take the B8046 exit to Kincardine Bridge/Uphall/A904. Turn left onto the B8406. After approximately 1 mile, turn left onto the A904. The entrance to the House of the Binns is just a little way ahead, on the right-hand side.
Parking
- The main driveway up to the house is smooth tarmac, with cattle grids at the main entrance and close to the main car park.
- There is a car park at the top of the drive for 26 cars.
- Blue Badge parking is available at the front of the house.
For coach parking, please email the Visitor Services Manager on houseofthebinns@nts.org.uk
Busy periods
If the Blue Badge bays are occupied, we will always try to find somewhere suitable for you to park. Unfortunately, we are not able to reserve parking spaces ahead of time. If you require assistance from a staff member to find a suitable parking space, please call 01506 830175.
By bike
We are approximately 2 miles from NCN76 at Blackness, via the B9109. There are bike racks opposite the car park.
By public transport
The nearest train stations are at Linlithgow (4 miles away) and Dalmeny (7 miles).
From Linlithgow, the F49 bus to Bo’ness stops at the end of Philipstoun Road, a 15-minute walk from House of the Binns along a busy road with no pavement.
There are no direct bus links from Dalmeny.
Getting around the house
- The front door is adjacent to the Blue Badge parking area with a smooth tarmac driveway.
- The house is approximately 85m from the main car park along a hard core drive and tarmac drive. There is a slight slope from the car park to the entrance gate.
- The ticket desk is accessed from the front door of the house.
- The front door has a width of 94cm and has no steps.
- The till point has an induction loop.
- There is no wheelchair access to the first floor.
- The floors are stone flagged or wooden with carpets.
- The doors are a minimum width of 72cm.
- The main staircase has a single flight of 18 stairs and has a fixed handrail.
Getting around outdoors
There is a tarmac drive that leads to the car park and around the outside of the house.
There are picnic tables in the grounds. Some are in a gently sloping field; others are in the meadow area, which is relatively flat and has pathways cut through the grass.
The circular woodland walk takes you through the wooded area to the east of the house and up to the tower, where you can take in magnificent views across the Forth to the north and over the Lothians towards the Pentland Hills to the south. The return route takes you to the south of the hill through a small gate, past General Tam’s smokehouse back to the main house.
This is an easy/moderate 1km walk and takes up to 30 minutes, but the ground is uneven and steep in places.
There are paths through the woods with some steps.
There are some stone steps in the field to the tower, which is not accessible for wheelchair users.
The parkland walk continues from the tower, taking you to several notable features around the estate and can take up to 1.5 hours.
The pathway is cut through the fields.
It is uneven and hilly in places.
Guide last updated: June 2022