Livingston Circuit (10.5 miles)
Like most post-war new towns, Livingston doesn't have a High Street as such. The retail heart is clustered around the huge Almondvale shopping complex. It's certainly an impressive place and buses from all over central Scotland pull in at regular intervals. However, we're here to walk and must find our way towards the River Almond. From the bus stances on Almondvale Avenue, walk towards McDonald's and turn left. Pass West Lothian College (on your right) then proceed along Almondvale Way and Kirkton Road South. Dip into Hunter Road and take the path almost immediately on your left. Turn right at the strip between the houses and you will arrive at the river. We are heading upstream.
Cross over at the first bridge and continue along the opposite bank until you enter the original Livingston Village, around which the new town was developed. There is a traditional inn here and an old church. Walk along Kirk Lane then turn right on to Lochshot Burn Path. A possible detour is to continue straight on at this junction for a further quarter of a mile, following the signs for the Almond Valley Heritage Centre. This is a family-friendly activity park with lots to keep the kids amused. Nestled just beyond the entrance is the Scottish Shale Oil Museum which tells the story of an industry which once dominated the Lothian landscape but ended in the early 1960s as it become more cost-effective to import crude oil by the tanker load. It truly is a fascinating tale and even today there are spoil heaps all over this part of Scotland.
Back at the Lochshot Burn trail, we pass a stone circle and leave this route as we approach Eliburn Reservoir. A zig-zagging path heads up a slope. Follow this and then bear right at the next fork to reach the reservoir. Stick to the edge of the lake - a lovely tranquil spot - before skirting a sports ground to hook up with the Nell Burn Path. Take a sharp right as we meet the railway line. We now follow Railway Path South which parallels the tracks for the next two and three quarter miles. We pass Livingston North Station before reaching the halt at Uphall. Beyond this station, the path swings right and we follow the course of an old mineral line. This stage is rural and we also skirt a golf course. Eventually we arrive at the high Camps Viaduct which has nine arches and spans the River Almond at a height of 75 feet. We don't actually want to cross the water at this point but by all means walk out to the centre of the viaduct to take in the views. The old railway served the shale oil plant at Pumpherston.
Retrace your steps back to the north bank and make your way down the staircase to water level. We head upstream as we turn back towards Livingston. We soon have to cross the Almond on a low bridge and pass by a water treatment plant. There are a couple of weirs along the way which obviously had an industrial purpose in the past. When we reach a main road, signs for Livingston will direct you along Cycle Route 75 but you might want to turn left uphill for a short detour through the village of Mid Calder. This is an old settlement and there are a couple of traditional country pubs. The Black Bull serves real ale and a large selection of whiskies (prices for nips starting at £1.50). Historically on the edge of Midlothian, Mid Calder is these days administered by West Lothian Council. Livingston was in fact built across two counties. Sweep around Market Street and turn right at an access road for number 12-16. Continue straight on along the path which descends to meet another. Take a sharp left alongside the houses and hook up again with the river path.
Cross the river (again!) and pass the rugby stadium. From here there are well-signposted traffic-free paths as we re-enter Livingston. Make one final crossing at the sign for town centre (east) and head for Asda. An escalator at the entrance brings you into the Almondvale Centre and you can walk through the mall back to the starting point. On the other side of Almondvale Avenue, the Livingston Designer Outlet contains a Wetherspoons pub which is an ideal place to refresh after this ten-mile trek.
