Linlithgow to Winchburgh (6.5 miles)
The previous stage ended as we approached the historic town of Linlithgow. Pick up the towpath where you left off and walk the elevated mile which affords great views of the town. The prominent St Michael's Church is easily spotted. Linlithgow Palace sits behind and can be viewed by looking back as we exit the town boundaries. At the canal centre, the is a statue dedicated to Dudley the cat who lived by the waterway.
We then enter open countryside and you may spot a pumpkin farm if walking in the autumn. The thrum of the M9 is ever present but the rolling landscape conveniently conceals this major transport artery. An information point near Philpstoun informs us the area was once dominated by the shale oil industry and criss-crossed by tramways. The industrial legacy is still present in the form of spoil heaps, one of which towers above the towpath as we work our way towards Winchburgh. The main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway is never far away and trains frequently hurtle past.
This leg finishes at the former mining settlement of Winchburgh. Another bing looms ahead and will be climbed on the next walk. A frequent bus service whisks you back to Linlithgow but Winchburgh itself has a pub, café and a few shops.
