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Visit West Lothian (@TeamWestLothian)
25/06/2012 13:25
Here's a few ideas of great things to do this summer in West Lothian http://ow.ly/bNziu
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Cycling page -
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Things to do in West Lothian
(19 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Too bad I can't put my bike on a train and get to Livingston. that looks like some fun family circular rides.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Too bad I can't put my bike on a train"
You mean the tandem on ScotRail thing?
Posted 12 years ago # -
"The name was given to the area by West Lothian Clarion founding member xxxxx xxx in 2007"
Erm, the Bathgate Hills have been affectionately known as the 'Bathgate Alps' for as long as I have been cycling, and probably many years before then.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"You mean the tandem on ScotRail thing?"
that's me. horse, beat. etc. call the spca...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I cycled through a bit of Livingston on Saturday. Not something I'd rush back to do deliberately, though preferable to walking as
mistakesforced errors could be rectified at greater speed. Had I been collecting a GPX track it would have resulted in an interestingly scalloped path with lots of pauses whilst I peered down path-options for signposts.Posted 12 years ago # -
Too bad I can't put my bike on a train and get to Livingston. that looks like some fun family circular rides.
You could always cycle out via the canal towpath: goes all the way to Linlithgow. Otherwise cycling via NEPN, Cramond Brig, then on-road through Kirkliston is a viable option...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yes, thanks crowriver, we've done both of those routes to Livingston (inlcuding last summer a big loop starting on NEPN and ending on canal, with ice cream in livingston), but its a bit much as a start to a circular ride that starts/finishes in Livingston, at least for small legs.
Posted 12 years ago # -
SRD - the slow train to Glasgow Central has six hooks you hang the bike from vertically, it may be that the Helios will fit such a hook? How long is it and I will check next time I am on. I have never tried taking on anything but a standard bike but Slateford is not a staffed station and the guard on the train is usually laid back. You would then take the train to kirknewton - only 4 stops. From there there is a tiny bit of main road but bikes can be pushed on pavement to the junction with the A71. Once over the junction which has pedestrian crossing you pootle down the pavement towards east calder but approx 100 yards along just before the part time farm shop, you cut on to an off road path that takes you very close to the entrance to Almondell Country Park and it is all Tarmac and carfree from then on in. Return from kirknewton, this Station also not staffed
Posted 12 years ago # -
Thanks gembo. As you suggest, we could probably sneak it on (as we did last time, coming back from linlithgow), but there is a point of principle!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Ah yes, principles, I remember them. with the rolling stock to kirknewton the vertical hangers may be tall enough that younaren't really sneaking on just pushing their no tandem rule to the edge?
Posted 12 years ago # -
perhaps. thing is, the helios fits all the rolling stock, but that doesn't make a difference to the guards - nor to me if they chuck me off.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Alternatively hop on the new electric trains to Glasgow via Bathgate. Generally have a tip up seat area for bikes: tandem should fit no problem I would have thought.
Two possible stations to alight in the Livingston area: Livingston North or Uphall (not far from East Calder). You can carry on to Bathgate if you want to be closer to the Bathgate Alps...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Both these routes if not using at peak times will have better space than the rolling stock on the queen st line
Posted 12 years ago # -
livi alternatives, A71 outvia junper green out past kirknewton etc. I know the 71 is a fairly heavy road but am sure with a wee bit of thought it could be utilised well ?Or even ochiltree castle, past Binny craig(crag ?)Oatridge college, etc heads toward Beecraigs and down to lithgae ?We used to spend days on these roads/tracks on grifters and rsw20s back when tv was black n white and lorries had horses !
scottPosted 12 years ago # -
Loadsa space on the Bathgate trains (I commute on them) - you'd get a tandom in no problem. But that's no help if you get a jobsworth guard - and you would have to get the tandem onto the train in Edinburgh so you'd have to get it past platform staff.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I reckon with Scotrail, as long as there's enough space. it should be fine to take just about any cycle on the train. Problems are likely to come if you're partly blocking an aisle or doorway. Even then, most guards don't seem to be bothered.
Off-peak the Bathgate service is very quiet so there's plenty of room: it's so spacious I remember thinking it couldn't quite be right when I first hopped on that train with my wee 3 speed folder. Usually leaves from one of the outlying platforms so no barrier checks (nor ticket checkers to get past outside peak times). Train goes all the way to Helensburgh too so you could plan a trip to Loch Lomond.
I haven't tried getting our tandem on a train yet, but the Bathgate train looks a likely first candidate. The other service that has a good long space for bikes is North Berwick.
Posted 12 years ago # -
You could take the canal all the way to Linlithgow then go up to beecraigs park then over to Bathgate via cairnpapple iron age burial mound ofnthekings of Lothian, down via the fake stone circle, steep hills up and down. Once in Bathgate take train home. This would be a heck of a day for wee legs. Bigger legs can of course head for the pyramids and their pink sheep and the off roadntarmac once over the M8 takes you back to Livingston with much sustrans off road path network to Almondell in East Calder then up to Kirknewton (again train option except Sundays). The back road from kirknewton to Heriot watt is quite quiet, except at the quarry. From Heriot watt you can get back on the canal. Quite an adventure
Posted 12 years ago # -
There's a great camp site and adventure playground in the forest at Beecraigs. You just need to haul your camping gear up that hill. (If I can do it, so can you, probably).
Posted 12 years ago #
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