Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced its seasonal programme for 2023, with the re-opening of more than 20 sites across the country and increased offerings at popular attractions.
Neolithic henges in Britain had a sacred purpose but these ditches were all too often overlooked and destroyed by modern agriculture and construction complexes.
Binny Craig, near Ecclesmachan, West Lothian. Picture: Getty THE Bathgate Hills are steeped in stories. This corner of West Lothian – stretching from Linlithgow in the north, to Bathgate in the south and Uphall in the east – may not be as well-known or lauded as some other Scottish landscapes, yet it is filled with beauty, rich history and folklore. Among its striking landmarks is Binny Craig, the impressive crag-and-tail landform – a volcanic sill – that you see in the accompanying photograph. If you squint your eyes, it looks like a lion s head. Binny Craig, near Ecclesmachan, is a legacy from the last Ice Age with its crag of hard rock facing west and sloping tail of sedimentary rock and fertile farmland to the east. It proffers superb views across the Firth of Forth, as well as surrounding West Lothian, Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills.