Blackness Castle sticks out into the River Forth a few miles west of the Forth Bridges. (See photograph in the link.) Because of its situation and prominence it is sometimes known as ‘the ship that never sailed’. It has had several uses over the years since it was built in the 1440s including as an ammunition store. As with most Scottish castles it has featured in the TV series Outlander.

Infiormation board:-

From approach road:-

Closer view and modern entrance:-

Side view and old entrance:-

Old entrance: now blocked off. The notice warns you not to climb on it:-

As you can see in the photo in the link a pier pokes from the castlefurther out into the river.

Castle from pier. (Stitch of two photos.):-

Pier, part of Castle and Blackness village beyond:-

View west from pier:-

View east: three bridges across the Forth:-

Close-up:-

As it was our anniversary on Monday we decided to visit Jupiter Artland, a Sculpture Park and Art venue near Wilkieston in West Lothian.

At present it is hosting an exhibition of paintings/drawings by Tracey Emin under the collective title “I Lay Here For You.” These smaller works were split between the Ballroom and an exhibition space in the Park’s Steadings. I must say I’m not taken with Emin’s painting/drawing skills. The best bit about the Ballroom was the building’s ceiling.

The garden outside the Ballroom was pleasantly planted:-

There’s what looks like a paddling pool in the grounds. It’s not really. There are signs asking you to stay on the black area for a start. The estate’s “Big House” is in the background here:-

We also partook of lunch in the café. The menu was abit pretentious but the food was good.

On the way in you drive past some Charles Jencks landforms called Cells of Life. Below is a stitch from four photos:-

Closer view of Charles Jencks landforms at Jupiter Artland with a red bridge in middle distance:-

In our later stroll through the grounds we came closer to that bridge. It’s named Only Connect and is by Ian Hamilton Findlay:-

The Quarry by Phyllida Barlow. The colours on the columns are a bit faded but reminded me of totem poles:-

The Rose Walk is by Pablo Bronstein:-

One of the installations is Weeping Girls, created by Laura Ford. I didn’t photgraph that one as I found the figures rather creepy.

Signpost to Jupiter. I note the distance is given in USian. (Since a meter is a measuring device not a length the better spelling is kilometres):-

There is a Tracey Emin sculpture titled I Lay Here for You in the grounds.

To give some idea of the location here is a phptgraph of three bridges across the River Forth as seen from Jupiter Artland. The Forth Bridge (right,) The Forth Road Bridge (centre,) The Queensferry Crossing (left.)

The original Forth Bridge (the only one which needs no adjective, ie the one which carries the railway.) Taken from South Queensferry on 1/11/2018:-

Forth Road Bridge with new Forth Road Bridge, the Queensferry Crossing, behind. Taken from South Queensferry:-

Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge:-

Panorama from Rosyth:-

From east:-

North span:-

Middle and south spans:-

From below; taken from deck of SS Black Watch:-

North Span from east. (Part of Forth Road Bridge and of Queensferry Crossing to left):-

From River Forth. Part of Forth Bridge to left:-

Forth Road Bridge from below:_

Forth Road Bridge with Forth Bridge behind.

North spans:-

South spans. Bow of SS Black Watch in shot:-

We happened to be going under the new Forth Road Bridge on our way to Norway the day they opened it to foot passengers (for the one and the only time.) Our eldest son and his intended entered the draw and won tickets for that. I don’t think they’re in these photos. (Forth Road Bridge in background in first one.)

Before we set sail, HMS Prince of Wales, the second new Royal Navy aircraft carrier, could be seen from the dock at Rosyth:-

Queensferry Crossing from the River Forth:-

From below:-

Bridge Support from the river:-

East side, from the river, looking south:-

East side, from the river, looking north, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

Photos from March 2017. Gap finally closed.

From South Queensferry:-

New bridge in full, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

From approach road to North Queensferry, Forth Road Bridge in background:-

Northern support pillar and cable stays:-

Northern cable stay tower:-

All three cable stay towers:-

South cable stay tower and support pillars. Work still being done where gap was closed:-

These were taken in late December 2016, so I’m a bit late getting round to posting them. The first three are views from North Queensferry, the later ones are from South Queensferry.

North support pillar:-

North cable stay tower:-

Central and south cable stay towers:-

Last gap in bridge:-

Close up on final gap. This is the one where I heard the support pillar’s foundations had been a bit suspect:-

Looking over Port Edgar Yacht Club:-

New bridge in full (except for last gap):-

Three Bridges Panorama. From left, Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge, Forth Bridge from South Queensferry side:-