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Almondell Country Park - East Calder

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  1. gembo
    Member

    Due to gusty wind yesterday we went for walk en famille to Almondell (except the no 2 child who spent all dy inside Laser Quest - 2 parties on same day).

    http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/1799514/1852568/almondell

    The Almond is a deep wide gorge at this section of its route so you are out of the wind. The park is either side of the river twixt Mid Calder and Broxburn. A network of tarmac and off road walking routes. As there is nobody there the cyclists have plenty space. Couple of people checking it out on mountain bikes and one young couple on tourers with the bloke carrying two well laden red ortlieb panniers. It is part of Route 75 so they may have been passing through. There is a little visitor centre selling ice cream/teas to take away and bric - a -brac.

    I wouldn't go in winter as I have used it occasionally when I was starting out to cycle off road to Livingston in autumn/winter - when sun lower in sky - damp and gloomy. Also dependent on wind direction and if weekday the water treatment place at MidCalder can intrude. The site has many mill lade type water channels so may have been industrial but also remains of walled garden and features suggesting Lord Livingston Estate or somesuch. The river has excellent stepping stones but swimming I would avoid as the local livingston Asda Trolley River Race ends in the park. Close by Jupiter Sculpture Park and Veitch's Nursery [best tended plants and shrubs for sale in Edinburgh area].

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    That sounds like a possible destination now we have the bike rack on the car for the summer. Do you think there's a couple of hours riding to be had there or is it better for walking?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Used to go there on the mtb in the early 90s, lots to check out on an mtb.
    On a road bike you can pass through it in 15 mins (I regularly do), but don't think there is a couple of hours on a road bike to be had, but there are lots of country lanes outwith the park which can be included in a road cycle.
    For a family trip walking is probably best, we sometimes walk the dogs over there at the weekend and it is a lovely place to go for a walk.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Baldcyclist
    Member

    There is also Beecraigs in the heart of the Bathgate Alps which makes for an excellent destination for road or mountain biking, as well as for a day out walking with the family.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. gembo
    Member

    I am with Baldycyclist, the road surface is good it is part of the Glasgow Edinburgh Cycleroute, it maybe that the road bikes I saw had been doing that route? The mountainbike routes seemed good - the aqueduct also crosses over the gorge in the park. Some steep bits and some short flat stretches. Two hours would give you the whole network. I'd say the major attraction for walkers and cyclists is that it is nice and quiet. It is 10-15mins from Balerno in the car (and not much longer on bike going there as downhill). If you stay in Porty it might be a long way to go for a jaunt. Unless you were doing canal, climbing centre, Jupiter Sculpture Park and Mary's Patchwork Retail Outlet.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Sounds like a fun day out for the family. May try it out soon!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    "
    BEECRAIGS play area has reopened after a major £200,000 refurbishment.

    West Lothian Council has upgraded the park with popular favourites such as swings, climbing frames and revolving equipment.  

    A tunnel embankment slide and two cableways will allow adventure-seekers to race each other as they fly through the air, while the sandworks provide children with hours of fun and learning. 
    "

    http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/newsfront.aspx?SectionID=10905

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    revolving equipment

    Is that some sort of new-fangled word for a roundabout?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "Is that some sort of new-fangled word for a roundabout?"

    Possibly.

    I'd like to think it was more like a cement mixer or tumble drier...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. SRD
    Moderator

    revolving equipment

    the meadows park has that fun red revolving thing that involves pedaling...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    Reviving this thread as I was considering a family trip out along the canal/WoL, stop off in Almondell for a picnic and wander, then either ride back or train from Uphall.

    I am wondering though, given today's rain and Saturday's whether the WoL path or indeed to western stretches of canal towpath will be muddy quagmire.

    Anyone more local to these areas care to comment/advise?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    Canal should not be too bad until Ratho. Might have some puddles after that. WoL path muddy now but if rain stays off will dry out (forecast not great?)

    Coming back from Falkirk wheel on towpath I found back way into almondell. You take the road approx 2.5 miles on the Falkirk side of the almond aqueduct it loops round to the country park past TA mansion place. You can then exit via climb up to east Calder then cycle to Jupiter art land and take left at wilkieston (corner can be cut by going into Jupiter and then out again through the hamlet. This is sort of closed to cars but not my bike, though some might object) from there you can go down to climbing centre and on to canal there or take the back road to Ratho. They have a new marina in Ratho but no boats yet. Cycle bridge looks like it swivels to allow the barges access.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. gembo
    Member

    Came up WoL path tonight, only two puddles, both with route around the outside. Nice.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. crowriver
    Member

    Thanks for the status report, gembo.

    Will probably do the trip on Thursday, maybe bone dry by then? Can't decide whether to go most of the distance on canal or turn off to WoL and some of it on roads from Balerno.

    No.1 son will be on his own bike, is confident but maybe the canal just edges it on safety grounds (assuming no falls into water of course).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    From Balerno on road you would have very steep descent down ravelrig hill which has a slight blind corner. Takes you to the long Dalmahoy then take left towards Kirknewton. Or if you came off the WoL path at the steps where there is a brick called Geoff, just after the old mill owner's house which is for sale, you could cross Lanark road west and head for Old Newmills Rd. This is also steep but no blind corner. This is very great sledging route. However does end at foot crossing over railway. Must be negotiated one bike through the gates at a time. Then take the farm road out on to the long Dalmahoy road which can be taken all the way to Kirknewton as fairly quiet back road with some quarry lorries to look out for. The main road at kirkneŵton cannot be avoided but has some bike lane along it. Down at the a71 you can use the traffic lights and then take the sustrans route through the farm tracks down to east Calder. Comes out close to the almondell country park opening. This is quite an arduous route for a youngster.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    Well we had a lovely ride out to Almondell today. NEPN out to Murrayfield, through the underpass (trick bike/BMX guy doing stunts on the concrete slope there as we passed). Thence to Harrison Park and the canal towpath.

    Not too busy at first, but near Heriot Watt and before Ratho quite a lot of cyclists out in the good weather. Most going (in my view) too fast for the towpath, especially riding under bridges without any audible signal. Indeed we witnessed a near head-on collision between cyclists, one guy on MTB tanking it, had to skid to a halt as two non-signalling folk on tourers emerged from under bridge No.13. We dismounted and pushed under most bridges apart from modern ones where you can see what's coming, or ones with wide, non-cobbly path underneath. Always ringing our bells at bridges to let oncoming cyclists/joggers know we're coming. Safety first with wee'uns around.

    Anyway path a bit muddy past Ratho but Almondell a great destination. Kids on stepping stones in river, they also had a great time in the wee playpark next to visitor centre. Quite a good selection of ices on sale there too.

    Up the hill after our picnic to East Calder briefly before taking the path to Uphall Station across the viaduct. Tired bairns meant train back to Waverley then 'wheeee' down Regent Road and home.

    We'll be back there, it's a good destination. Maybe via Balerno next time...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. gembo
    Member

    Glad you made it out Crowriver in the good weather. You selected the exact things we used to do with younger kids - stepping stones, swing park and ice creams in the visitor centre. As we had only come from Balerno we would do a fair bit of walking or cycling around inside the park traffic free.

    It is at its best on a sunny day. I occasionally think west Lothian council could do a bit more with it.

    E.g if river had path you could get right to crammond etc.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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