West Lothian - 33 Attractions You Must Visit

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About West Lothian

West Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and was one of its historic counties. The county, which was known as Linlithgowshire,was bounded geographically by the Avon to the west and the Almond to the east. The modern council area occupies a larger area than the historic county.

Types of Attractions in West Lothian

Activities Around

List of Attractions in West Lothian

Abercorn Church

Abercorn Church and Cemetery is a located near Queensferry and the southern side of the Forth Road Bridge. The church has a rich, and lengthy history. Although the structure is mainly post-reformation, the church was founded in the 11th century, being completed in the 12th century.

Almond Aqueduct

Almond Aqueduct

Man-made Structures- Other

The Almond Aqueduct, also known as the Lin's Mill Aqueduct, is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Union Canal over the River Almond in Scotland, west of Ratho, Edinburgh. Measuring 420 feet long, it carries the Union Canal 76 feet above the River Almond, from Edinburgh into West Lothian. A sluice into the Almond allows regulation of the water level in the canal, and near to the aqueduct is a feeder from Cobbinshaw Reservoir.

Almond Valley

Almond Valley

Outdoors- Other

Forests

The fields, woods and green spaces of the Almond Valley site extend either side of the river Almond for nearly a mile. At its heart lies the historic buildings of Livingston Mill and the associated Mill Farm. This is home to many friendly farm animals who are always keen to introduce themselves to visitors. Elsewhere on site, there are all manner of unique and imaginative play spaces set among the fields and gardens.

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

Almondell and Calderwood Country Park is a 220-acre Country Park in West Lothian, Scotland and is a 4 star Visitor Attraction. The Park is split into two main areas, Almondell Park which comprises the Almondell estate which originally belonged to the Erskine family of Broxburn and the Calderwood estate which once belonged to the Barons of Torphichen.The Almondell Estate follows the line of the River Almond, with paths and trails crisscrossing the river over a variety of bridges. It is a popular

Avon Aqueduct

Avon Aqueduct

Outdoors- Other

This is the second largest aqueduct in Britain and the largest in Scotland. It measures 247m long, 25.9m high and 7.2 m wide. All three aqueducts on the canal use the same construction of hollow stone piers and arches spanning 50 ft. The water is channeled over in an iron trough. The canal's engineer Hugh Baird consulted Thomas Telford over this innovative design. There are canal boat trips to the aqueduct from Linlithgow.

Beecraigs Loch

Beecraigs Loch

Outdoors- Other

Beecraigs Loch, was built by German Prisoners of War. They were based in a work camp and had been sent from Stobs Camp near Hawick. Clay and stone was used to build the dam wall, this stone was quarried from Riccarton Hill and brought down the slopes to the site using a winch-powered railway. By 1918 the 8 hectare reservoir, holding 82 million gallons of water, began serving as a local water supply and continued to do so for 55 years.

Bennie Museum

Bathgate's well established Bennie Museum is currently running a fascinating 'Museum of Childhood' exhibition, which depicts and shows aspects of life from the perspective of Bathgate's children from years gone by. This includes vintage toys, books and games. It wasopened in 1989 as a museum of Bathgate’s history and life.

Blawhorn Moss

Blawhorn Moss

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Blawhorn Moss is a rare survivor of the raised and blanket peat bogs that once covered much of Scotland. It is the largest and least disturbed raised bog in the Lothians, and has been a National Nature Reserve since 1980. It is owned and managed by NatureScot, the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage.

Cairnpapple Hill

Cairnpapple Hill

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Cairnpapple Hill is a hill with a dominating position in central lowland Scotland with views from coast to coast. It was used and re-used as a major ritual site over about 4000 years, and in its day would have been comparable to better known sites like the Standing Stones of Stenness. The summit lies 312 m above sea level, and is about 2 miles north of Bathgate. In the 19th century the site was completely concealed by trees, then in 1947–1948 excavations by Stuart Piggott found a series of ritua

Cairns Castle, Scotland

Cairns Castle, Scotland

Iconic Buildings

Cairns Castle is though to have been built around 1440, and comprises of a rectangular main tower attached to which was a smaller square wing. The castle stands on a raised mound jutting out into the Harperrig Reservoir where it is fed by the Water of Leith. It has been a Scheduled Monument since 30 November 1981. It was a category B listed building until it was de-listed in 2015.

Cockleroy Hill

Cockleroy Hill

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Cockleroi or Cockleroy is a prominent hill in Scotland. It is Linlithgow's local hill. At its summit is a Bronze-Age hill fort known as Wallace's Bed or Wallace's Cradle, which is very similar in structure to another on the nearby Bowden Hill. Also at the summit are an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar and a geographical indicator.

Dechmont Law

Dechmont Law

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Dechmont Law is a hill in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 700 yards southwest of the village of Dechmont, which provides its name. It is known locally as "Decky Hill" or as "Dechmont Hill". "Deer Hill" is another peak of the same hill, to the northeast of the main peak. It is the highest hill in the Livingston area, and Arthur's Seat and the Pentland Hills can be seen from here, as well as a view down the Almond valley.

Deer Park Golf & Country Club

Deer Park is a leading Scottish country club, from their championship golf course to the serene and tranquil leisure facilities, a wide range of experiences are on offer here. It was also an attractive wedding venue too. In summary, Deer Park comprises an 18 hole championship golf course, a fantastic restaurant, Tenpin Bowling, relaxing spa and excellent gym facilities.

Eliburn Park

Eliburn is an area, primarily residential, in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. Eliburn is borderd by Deans to the north, Ladywell to the west and Livingston Village to the south. It has play areas for ages 3-18 years, car park, picnic area, woodland walks around the reservoir, 3 football pitches, a kick pitch, pavilion and a path network that joins up with Livingston’s extensive foot/cycle path network

Five Sisters Zoo

Five Sisters Zoo is a fun all year round great family day out with over 196 species of mammals birds & reptiles. There’s lion's, lemurs and lynx, bears, meerkats and monkeys, parrots and porcupines, bat earred foxes, bunnies, reindeers and raccoons to name but a few, all adding up to an exciting, educational and great value visit for all the family.

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House

Iconic Buildings

Hopetoun House is Scotland's finest stately home and is a place of outstanding natural beauty and has been home to the Hope family since 1699. During the summer months, parts of the castle and gardens are open to visitors. Classical musical recitals are occasionally put on at Hopetoun House. Chilean pianist Alfredo Perl once performed recitals of Chopin at the house. The site can also be let for weddings, conferences, and filming.

House Of The Binns

House Of The Binns

Iconic Buildings

The House of the Binns, or simply the Binns, is a historic house in West Lothian, Scotland, the seat of the Dalyell family. It dates from the early 17th century, and was the home of Tam Dalyell until his death in January 2017.Since 1944, this grand home has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland on the proviso that ‘the history, legend and memory of the family’ are preserved and that subsequent generations retain the right to live there.

Linhouse

Linhouse

Outdoors- Other

Linhouse Glen has a mixture of habitats, including heathland, native woodland on steep narrow slopes and species-rich grassland. The grassland provides cover and food for brown hares and birds such as skylark and reed bunting. It offers an easy, disabled walk through woods of about 3 miles over made up red gravel paths.

Linlithgow Loch

Linlithgow Loch

Man-made Lakes

Linlithgow Loch is a shallow freshwater lake in West Lothian, Scotland. It has a mean depth of 2.3m and a maximum depth of 9.2m (SNH 2008). It was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1984 because it is the only lowland mesotrophic loch in West Lothian. Its botanical and ornithological interests also contributed to its SSSI status. In 2008, the status of Linlithgow Loch was revised from mesotrophic to eutrophic and the ornithological interests were removed as a characteristic att

Linlithgow Museum

A really intresting museum located in the centre of Linlithgow within the Partnership CentreTheir three galleries will help you explore the town’s royal connections, understand its industrial past, and learn what ‘Life by the Loch’ was really like. Exhibitions in our community space will bring you closer to the Linlithgow residents of today.

Map of attractions in West Lothian

Comments

For more information about West Lothian, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lothian