Explore!

It is here that I have found what I am looking for. On a few of the surrounding boulders of the outcrop are curious markings.

Oakbank had a life-span of 120 years, from 1864 as a working village for the Oakbank Oil Works, til the last resident moved out in 1984

Stepping out of my car and onto the wooden boardwalk, coated in white from last night’s light snowfall, feels like stepping onto a conveyor, leading into a realm of tranquillity. Quickly, I find myself amongst gnarled and lichen-encrusted birch, standing old and wise, like sentinels of a faery kingdom.

The hills’ rich history, interesting features and proximity to Bathgate, Livingston and Linlithgow make for many fantastic short walks

To enjoy this walk, you need to be equipped with a sense of adventure, a picnic and a sturdy pair of boots. It starts off reasonably flat and gets more challenging as you go along, with different terrains underfoot and a cave said to have sheltered William Wallace after his defeat at the battle of Falkirk.

The pink bings that characterise our skylines are the most visible monuments to the industry, but there is more than meets the eye. The Shale Trail is a wonderful way to learn about it. It takes in various sites of significance and is punctuated by information signage with stories highlighting aspects of the industry and local life. There is a children’s version as well, with material prepared by local school children.

At House of the Binns, enjoy a short woodland walk, lovely panoramic views, and parkland with picnic spots is lovely any time of year. It makes for a crisp winter walk and in the new year the snowdrops begin the parade of year-long colour on the estate

Packed with features interest, this pushchair and wheelchair-friendly walk starts and finishes at the historic Bo'ness harbour

Well, it’s not quite piña colada, but it is a pineapple and you may well get caught in the rain. This month we visited what is described as “the most bizarre building in Scotland” - the Dunmore Pineapple near Airth - to check out the garden and walks nearby. Within Dunmore Park are gardens maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, the remains of what was Dunmore House (not accessible) ... and an extraordinary stone pineapple. The “Dunmore Pineapple” is clearly signed fro

A gorgeous early November morning was met with a choice of a visit to B & Q or a bracing walk outdoors. A conversation with a friend decided on a walk at Hillend Loch near Caldercruix. It’s a place that has memories for me, more of which later. The loch is 1.5 miles from Caldercruix station or 4 miles along the A89 from Blackridge, and is an ideal location for a walk. If you take the train regularly from West Lothian to Glasgow via Airdrie, you will be familiar with the sigh

For the serious walker, a boardwalk might be considered a cop out. However, the main point of a boardwalk is to preserve the land beneath...

Regular readers will know that I love finding a local walk but I have been so busy recently that I haven’t had time for much exploring....

With a couple of hours off work and the children needing to get out of the house, where can we go for a walk that the kids will enjoy, is...

It’s hard to beat a woodland walk in late autumn, kicking through the leaves and taking in the spectacular colours of nature, to revitalise body and mind. Muiravonside Country Park is a fantastic place for such a walk, and it’s perfect for a trip with the kids. A sculpture and poetry trail provides a fun and informative set of wee landmarks to find, taking you through orchard and woodland. It ends up at the cafe and children’s play area; perfect. Park in the main carpark an

Walks through the Craiglockhart hills were a popular way of exercising and relaxing for the shell- shocked soldiers who were treated at Craiglockhart War Hospital. This trail starts at Napier University Craiglockhart campus, and is about three miles in total. It’s divided into two loops, so if you are short of time you can do either one of them in less than an hour. The slopes are steep in places and the paths can be muddy so wear sensible shoes. Before you set off, why not t

My favourite kind of walk has to be one involving water - a riverside ramble, a stride along the seashore, looping around a loch...fresh...

In the process of looking for a new place to stretch the legs, I came across an article from the Woodland Trust about a relatively new...

It never ceases to amaze me how much you find out about where you live when you go looking for somewhere different to take a walk. West...

Getting out the office or house and doing something that is not computer-based is something we should all consider, so when I'm out in the car I keep an eye out for somewhere different to walk. One place that has always had me intrigued as I have driven by on many occasions is the Korean War Memorial in the Bathgate hills, so on a recent drive by I decided to take the time to stop and have a proper look. Driving directions : Head out of Linlithgow on Preston Road from the wes

This area of woodland trails covers both sides of the Water of Leith from Colinton to Slateford. Steeped in history, it's also home to a lot of wildife and flora, and with well-maintained paths is ideal for either a brisk circular walk or an aimless meander. There are many spots you can get into the Dell, but for this walk I chose to start from Bridge Road in Colinton and walk down the “Long Steps” - a very old stairway linking the main part of the village to the parish churc