Linlithgow Palace is a great day trip from Edinburgh, especially on a sunny day. The visitor can see the palace in the morning and still have the whole day left to explore Edinburgh. Trains run to Linlithgown several times an hour, and it is a cheap, short ride to the town. When arriving at Linlithgown station, head toward the old building on the hill (which is the palace). St. Michael's church is located at the entrance of the palace and can be visited for free. It is what I would call the typical British abbey. High ceilings, cold stone, and colorful stained glass.
The palace can be entered a only a few steps up the hill, and admission is about 3 pounds per person. You'll find that you can roam around the ruins, duck through all of the passageways and stairs virtually alone with history and nature. This palace is one of the oldest and most historic in Scotland. It was built in 1200 and rebuilt in 1400. It had a wooden roof, which has long vanished, and much of it has crumbled. But you can still look through the large stone windows of the king's bedroom over the amazing loch and town below. You can almost feel the centuries of history here.
I highly recommend this adventure to anyone visiting Edinburgh. In only a few hours, we saw rolling countryside full of widlflowers and cattle, a palace overlooking a lake, and all sorts of interesting passageways and rooms from the past.
NOTE: if you plan to visit this palace, Edinburgh Castle, and more sights in Scotland, you may want to seriously consider purchasing a Historic Scotland membership. A couple will get free entrance to all HS properties for 53 pounds. Admission to Edinburgh Castle and Linlithgow Palace alone is 20 pounds.