Knights battle at palace
Visitors to Linlithgow had the chance to step back in time last weekend.
Knights, complete with their horses and lances rode into town as the annual Spectacular Jousting event returned to the town.
To help celebrate the year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, visitors could take part in a thrilling festival of horsemanship, pageantry and music as a host of colourful, historic characters battled it out to be crowned the King’s Champion at Linlithgow Palace.
The jousting gives spectators the chance to see an impressive display of arms and armour at close range as knights take to their steeds for shieldsplintering exhibitions of strength and horsemanship.
Visitors also had the chance to meet the knights, try their hand at hobby horse jousting and wander through their camps on Linlithgow’s Peel to learn about medieval life from the knights and their aides.
There were also opportunities to learn about medieval hunting with the court falconer, witness impressive medieval archery and see what jovial tricks the Court Jester is getting up to.
And hundreds of people packed onto the Peel to take advantage of the opportunity to see the historic re-enactment close up.
Speaking ahead of the event, Gillian Urquhart, events manager for Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Spectacular Jousting is one of our most popular events, so it’s great to see its return to Linlithgow Palace.”