Broxburn is probably best known for its football club, which does tend to do OK but there are plenty of other reasons to visit as you will see when you read on. The town itself can be found in West Lothian, not that far from Edinburgh Airport. For a relatively small town, it gets a lot of traffic as it’s a place you might stopover at. In terms of east-meets-west; Broxburn is the Prestwick of the East.
Broxburn Jewel of West Lothian?
mage: SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
Broxburn has a heritage that is completely real but reads like a fairy tale. First, it was granted to clan Fleming by King David. In 1350, Margery Le Cheyne inherited the eastern side of town when her father died. This area became known as Easter Strathbrock. She had a nice house on the lands and was reportedly a lovely lady… because a town sprang up around her.
After this, the estate was completely destroyed by fire. This was down to a clan war between the Douglas’s and the Crichton’s. A few years later it was destroyed by Clan Douglas yet again. When it was rebuilt it was renamed Broxburn. That seems to have broken the burning curse…
…Maybe not completely though. During the industrial revolution, the town was heavily involved in the production of shale oil. Now, you can still see the remnants of this old industry everywhere you look. Three shale bings surround the town. For anyone who doesn’t come from a miner’s town, a “bing” is a heap of the spill waste from the mines. Usually, they are still burning in the centre and will continue to do so for years to come. They are neither pleasant nor healthy.
Thirty years on from the closing of most of the pits in the central regions of Scotland and these bings are only just growing over with greenery and new forests are growing where the old smelt once lay. Thank goodness nature knows how to claim back the desolation.
Anyway, Broxburn is a thoroughly pleasant place… but what are its best bits?
Broxburn Attractions you really should see…
So if you are in the area for any length of time, what sights should you see? Here are our favourite attractions in Broxburn: as told by a handful of locals…
It isn’t often that we come across old buildings that aren’t truly abandoned in Scotland. This is a castle built in 1590, left to the ruins of time. It is now undergoing a slow restoration to return it to its former glory. You can peruse the grounds at the moment but watch out for the workmen and try not to get in the way.
Duntarvie is somewhere between a magical ruin and a future wedding venue. It is going to be fantastic when it is finished. Most Grade A listed buildings are… although the renovations take a painfully long time.
While we are in the process of seeking out the best of old castles in the area, you really should check on Niddry. This 1500 castle was built to house Lord Seton, but once held Mary Queen of Scots after her escape from Loch Leven. The castle was attacked twice during this time, and twice the Lord Seton defended against her pursuers. Better yet; those in Edinburgh Castle attacked King James’ army in other places to create diversions and help protect her.
It’s all very romantic. In later years it massed to clan Hope before becoming abandoned when Council Tax became a thing. It is Grade A listed and will be restored… one day.
…What do you do in your average Scottish town when you have space between two bings and a castle in the backdrop? You throw up a golf club and hope nobody complains about melting golf balls… or gets lost down a hole.
OK, OK, so this is in Livingston… but it is literally a mile and a half from Broxburn. Jump in a taxi if you have to, excusing the pun, and go play on some trampolines. They say this is best for teenagers and kids, but we think that adults are just as entitled to have some fun if they want to. Go bounce. You deserve it.
The Church Tour
There isn’t an official Church Tour but there seems to be some sort of local religious war going on in Trip Advisor. Choose from:
- John Cantius & St. Nicholas Catholic Church
- Broxburn Parish Church
- Winchburgh Parish Church
- Philomena Catholic Church
- And Broxburn Baptist Church
So if you are looking for a spiritual getaway Broxburn might have the guidance you have been searching for. If not? We suggest a journey of spiritual enlightenment to the far flung reaches of the east… it’s about the only type of spiritual sustenance you can’t find here.
Football Anyone?
As mentioned above Broxburn has a half-decent team in Broxburn Athletic, who have moved up from Junior Football to the Tier 6 East of Scotland League recently. This gives teams a path to the Scottish League proper, all be it a long and arduous one. They have been on the go since 1948 and currently play at Albyn Park, which has a very small capacity (around 1000), however, unless its a bank holiday or a Scottish Cup match against a League team you should get in ok. You can check out their web site here.
Other Notable Broxburn Sights
There are a few other things you can do out and about in Broxburn and the surrounding areas. Some of the other things you should try out include:
- Visiting Hopetoun Farm – the Hope clan had a big influence in the area. Anything named Hopetoun basically belonged to them once.
- Visit the Broxburn Viaduct – this is more of a ‘something to see’ than it is a viable attraction. It’s a massive old structure that crosses the road. You can’t miss it.
- Visit little Broxburn – the town is actually named after a tiny hamlet in East Lothian. You should go out and see it if you fancy seeing some countryside. Best done in summer though. Stick to the A-roads in winter.
- Go Garden Centre shopping – Broxburn has a few garden centres around the area that make for a pleasant afternoon. Don’t go on a Sunday unless you fancy wrestling old women for a seat.
So get out there and go have some Broxburn based fun! Or at least spend some time seeing the scenery. West Lothian is very pretty when you get out and about.
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