Bathgate is everybody’s favourite West Lothian town. People in this region have a strong, east coast accent, even though they aren’t really on the east coast – at least not in Bathgate. It’s about 8 km from Livingston which is where everyone in West Lothian goes shopping. The M8 runs pretty much straight through it and, if you happen to fly into Edinburgh airport, it is one of the last towns you will fly over.
Image: SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
A Little Bathgate History
Originally known as ‘Bathchet’, this Scottish town is first mentioned in the annals of history in a confirmation charter signed by Malcolm IV of Scotland… around about 1141. There is a long-running joke in Scotland that some of our towns are older than America. Usually, we use Lanark as the example, but Bathgate works equally as well (seriously: the Americas were officially discovered in 1492. You can look it up, if you like.)
So while America was yet to pop into existence (we’re kidding) Robert the Bruce’s daughter was getting married and Bathgate castle was part of her dowry. Every year, the people have a sort of gala day that started with this union and became an anniversary which ultimately turned into a tradition. It’s called the Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival and it happens in April every year.
So asides from a ton of history and a yearly celebration so old the people have forgotten how it actually started – what does Bathgate have going for it? Well, it was a seat of the Livingstone clan, obviously retaining links with the Bruce’s and the Stewarts. Native to the area are the clan Bathgate itself, which has meetings in the area to this day, and clan Hope.
So let’s assume you are going to be spending some time in this historically rich area… what are the sights that you should make time to see? We took a five-minute tour around Bathgate and picked out the best bits to save you a little time.
The Best Bits of Bathgate
We listed some of the best bits about Bathgate below, but feel free to add your thoughts in the forum!
The 5 Sisters Zoo
It’s a fairly small zoo by comparison to nearby Edinburgh zoo – but it is much easier for most of southern Scotland to get to. Besides anything else, the next best thing to 5 Sisters is Blair Drummond Safari Park and that is a bit of a drive away.
5 Sisters have a whole range of smaller animals for you and the kiddies to enjoy. They can be found outside of town in West Calder, run illumination shows at night, and have nearly 200 species of animal for you to admire. You can show up to watch a reptile feeding if you have the stomach for it. For some reason, boys of all ages love this part…
The Beecraigs
Image: Dougie Milne Photography/Shutterstock.com
Another outdoor type, fun activity day place to see is the Beecraigs. This country park is incredibly popular with both locals and tourists since it gives you a reasonably cheap day out with the little ones, any day of the week.
The Beecraigs cover some 913 acres of parkland and can be found in the Bathgate Hills. This is a historically important area since it falls into the Linlithgow territories. Battles were once fought over this land. Now kids play on it on the swings. Go figure.
The Bennie Museum
If you are new to the area and want to learn about how it evolved through the ages then this is the place to go. The Bennie Museum has images, papers, exhibits and artefacts from Bathgate throughout the ages. The majority of the collection ranges from the 17th century onwards, but there are a few little gems in there that give you a glimpse back through the ages.
Cairnpapple Hill
We haven’t forgotten you history buffs! If you want to see the oldest thing in Bathgate then take a trip out into the hills. Particularly, make sure you visit the 4000-year-old, pre-historic burial ground found on Cairnpapple Hill.
Image: alanf/Shutterstock.com
Not only does this lovely location have an ancient burial ground under your feet; it is also one of the few areas in central Scotland where you can see coast-to-coast on a clear day. A lot of locals forget that our country is no more than 200 miles across even where it is thickest! Cairnpapple Hill is a brilliant viewpoint for reminding yourself of this. It is a couple of miles outside of Bathgate but it is totally worth the trip!
The Reconnect Regal Theatre
So if you are staying over it is important that you check out what’s going on at the theatre. This place is an events venue of tasteful standing that gives a great night out for lovers of the arts. Theatre in Scotland is a bit of a dying industry as more and more of us rely on TV and film. It’s a shame, when so many beautiful buildings like this may close due to lack of business. Book it for a corporate event or catch a show here and keep the tradition alive!
Other Bathgate Attractions
Bathgate is chock-full of things to do and we couldn’t fit them all into one place… but we shall try! Here are some other things to do in Bathgate that should be worth five minutes attention:
- The Dreadnought – looking to dance, drink, or have a good night out? Try the Dreadnought nightclub as the epicentre of the local nightlife scene.
- Bathgate Cinema – take the kids for an afternoon, perhaps leave them there, the choice is yours.
- Muiravonside Country Park – as if two country parks weren’t enough, this one is also in the area.
Still got Time?
If you find yourself at a loose end then fear not! There are plenty of other five-minute travel guides on our website. Take your pick and start planning your next Scottish holiday, all with a little help from Five Minutes Spare!
