Finally took an afternoon visit to Linlithgow yesterday, and what a lovely place it is! The express train from Glasgow Queen Street takes just around 30 mins to get there/back. The main purpose for going was to see the flotilla of narrow boats that was travelling down the canal from nearby Winchburgh (the borough of kissing – it should be taking that distinctive pun – if it isn’t already. Lol) to Linlithgow Canal Centre. The narrow boats were set to arrive at the Canal Centre at around 5pm.
We arrived in Linlithgow around 2.30pm and had a wee wander along the High Street. It was quite a relaxed vibe. The town centre was not very busy but it was by no means empty either. Bustling enough without feeling overly crowded or “touristy.”
The first shop we wandered into was a rather nice but perhaps gilding the lily with its description as an “antique” shop and would possibly be more rightfully called a charity shop or perhaps a bric-a-brac shop? Regardless, as soon as I walked in my ears were instantly attuned to the music playing in the shop – only bloody ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ FFS! Lol. Like, seriously – there’s no escape!
As we made our way along the High Street we spotted the local museum. By this time we needed use of “facilities” and I thought the museum would be our best bet. The OH noticed that the building was called the Tam Dalyell Building, who she proceeded to tell me was a Labour Party member, and Welsh. My retort was “Why would a building in Linlithgow be named after a Welshman? Tam is a Scottish name. Are you sure he was Welsh?” Turns out that the OH was in for an education as, indeed, Tam was in fact Scottish and a local West Lothian-an. Rather amazing that a man of his education (an Etonian and Cambridge graduate) would actually be a Labour Party member all his life – being the MP for West Lothian and Linlithgow from 1962 until 2005. The OH also found out that another MP she had thought was Welsh, Manny Shinwell, was also not Welsh. Shinwell has born in London but his family moved to Glasgow when he was young and he’d also been a Scottish MP. Evey day’s a school day, as the saying goes.
The museum was quite a good local museum. There’s a few photos of the things below – some playing to my deplorable innuendo-laced mind. Lol. The two drawings are two children’s attempts to come up with their own mythical beast. These two were both cat-themed and so they gave me a giggle.
Making our way back down the High Street I decided to take a detour into the record shop there. Quite a good shop it is too! To my surprise I saw a copy of the latest Dark Flowers LP, Indian Summer, for sale! Had I the funds available I would have bought it as I’m still yet to have purchased a copy of it. Alas, instead I bought myself yet ANOTHER Cliff Richard album. I know! What can I say? Age must be doing something to me as I am finding myself getting into Cliff more and more these days – heaven help me! Lol. This one I blame on watching old Thames TV episodes of the Kenny Everett Video Show.
As the time ticked on towards 5pm, we made our way towards the Canal Centre and watched the flotilla making its way into the basin. The weather was perfect, mostly sunny with a light breeze. There were about 20 narrow boats that either docked at the basin or continued on down the canal.
From there we took a walk across the road to the little garden there which has the so-called “pigeon palace” there – known also as ‘The Ross Doocot’ – “doocot” being Scots for dovecote. Made of sandstone dating back to the 16th century. Found in the grounds of the small but beautiful Learmonth Gardens, it’s worth a visit to marvel at its bee-hive construction.
The afternoon had moved on and it was time we started to head for home. A visit to the local Tesco for some bits and pieces and then on the (rather packed) train back to Queen Street, then onwards to home.
It had been a lovely afternoon. I dare say it won’t be the last time we find ourselves in Linlithgow for the afternoon.
Adios!
