📌 Linlithgow, West Lothian
★★
Tourists mainly visit Linlithgow for its famous palace, and rightly so – but the area is also blessed with some excellent walks which are a little more off the beaten track – certainly for international visitors, at least. This varied circuit links the Royal Burgh with the royal stags of Beecraigs Country Park, found on higher ground south of the town. The Union Canal and Beecraigs Loch both feature and provide good opportunities for watching waterfowl, while the tiny but prominent summit of Cockleroy (see our separate feature page) can easily be incorporated into the route for superb views across the Forth valley region. We’ve listed this walk as a half day route but it could easily fill a whole day if you include the optional extension, linger within the country park or even make a detour to Linlithgow Palace.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Ross Doocot at the start 
Union Canal 
Union Canal 
Track away from the canal 
Looking north from the track to Parkley Place 
Parkley Craigs 
Yellowhammer 
Farm at Hiltly 
Hillhouse Woodland 
Hillhouse Woodland 
Red deer at Beecraigs’ “Animal Attraction” 
Beecraigs 
Beecraigs 
Beecraigs Loch 
Beecraigs Loch 
South side of the park 
West side of the park 
Path beyond Cockleroy 
Return to Linlithgow 
View of Linlithgow Palace from the canal towpath
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Manse Road at bridge over Union Canal, 5-min walk south of Linlithgow town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 004770
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.975205,-3.597274
🚆 Train to Linlithgow | 🚌 Bus to Linlithgow
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 290 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr
Features: 🕊️ Ross Doocot; 💧 Union Canal; 🦌 Beecraigs Country Park ★★
⬤ Moderate | Generally good going on a variety of paths, tracks and minor roads. Approach to Beecraigs is quite steep and muddy.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Ross Doocot – Union Canal – Wilcoxholm – Parkley Place – Cauldhame – Hiltly – enter Beecraigs Country Park – Hillhouse Woodland – visitor centre – Animal Attraction – south side of Beecraigs Loch – woodland to southwest – Cockleroy car park (optional detour to summit from here, not included in route stats) – track just west of visitor centre – path alongside Preston Road – rejoin canal towpath – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, greylag geese, mute swans, mallards, goosanders, yellowhammers, tits and other small birds. Red deer and Highland cows at Beecraigs.
Weather: Sunny with light winds. Around freezing with fresh snow above 150 m; canals and lochs mostly frozen.
January 2021
