The John Muir Way - Falkirk to South Queensferry

The fifth and sixth sections of the John Muir Way cover 23 miles which we hiked at a relaxed pace with stops in Linlithgow, Bo'ness, and Hopetoun before reaching the picturesque seaside city of South Queensferry.

With relatively short distances to span each day, we took the opportunity to visit local attractions such as the:

- Lovely Callendar House estate with its fully functional 1825 kitchen.

- Imposing Linlithgow Palace where Mary Queen of Scots was born in 1542.

- Stunning Blackness Castle with its long history as a state prison, artillery fortification, and ammunitions depot.

Exploring the nooks and crannies of these impressive structures was a joy, but we found something special in a somewhat lesser known attraction.

The 100+ year old Hippodrome in Bo'ness is Scotland's oldest purpose-built cinema. After visiting the concession stand, we took our seats to watch Roman Polanski's "Venus in Fur", an unusual and enjoyable movie made even better by the architecturally stunning setting.

As we cross the midpoint of our Scotland hike, we're reminded to slow down, savor the simple experiences, and appreciate the opportunities we're given. And sometimes stepping out for dinner and a movie does just the trick.

The John Muir Way - Strathblane to Falkirk

The third and fourth stage of the John Muir Way covers 26 miles which we hiked over three days, with nights spent in Milton of Campsie and Auchinstarry Marina, before reaching the sprawling city of Falkirk.

The well worn path highlights the evolution of transportation in this unique corner of the world. Signboards announce the route's extensive history and numerous uses as it passes along and over:

- The Antonine wall, an 1,800+ year old physical barrier demonstrating the northern-most reach of the Roman Empire.

- Canal towpaths, the primary mode of transportation for goods during the 18th and 19th century before the advent of railroads.

- Reclaimed railways, displaced by roads and freight trucking in the 1950s.

As we trod in the steps of soldiers, horses, and freight trains from centuries past, our thoughts turned to potential future developments in transportation. How long will it take for roads to become obsolete, devolving into casual hiking paths for future generations who zip from place to place in Jetsonian flying vehicles? Or, for DINKS' numerous Star Trek fans, when will teleportation become the mod method of conveyance?

As tempting as it may be to have Scotty beam us to our final destination on Scotland's eastern shores, we'll stick with our preferred mode of transit: Walking, an eye-level window seat view of the world.