{"id":1597,"date":"2019-12-02T16:46:46","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T16:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=1597"},"modified":"2020-12-09T11:28:18","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T11:28:18","slug":"bathgate-the-five-minute-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/bathgate-the-five-minute-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Bathgate The Five Minute Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bathgate is everybody\u2019s favourite West Lothian town. People in this region have a strong, east coast accent, even though they aren\u2019t really on the east coast \u2013 at least not in Bathgate. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"Bathgate

Image: SevenMaps\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

A Little Bathgate History<\/h2>\n

Originally known as \u2018Bathchet\u2019, this Scottish town is first mentioned in the annals of history in a confirmation charter signed by Malcolm IV of Scotland\u2026 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<\/a>. You can look it up, if you like.)<\/p>\n

So while America was yet to pop into existence (we\u2019re kidding) Robert the Bruce\u2019s 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\u2019s called the Bathgate Procession and John Newland Festival and it happens in April<\/a> every year.<\/p>\n

So asides from a ton of history and a yearly celebration so old the people have forgotten how it actually started \u2013 what does Bathgate have going for it? Well, it was a seat of the Livingstone<\/a> clan, obviously retaining links with the Bruce\u2019s and the Stewarts. Native to the area are the clan Bathgate<\/a> itself, which has meetings in the area to this day, and clan Hope<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s assume you are going to be spending some time in this historically rich area\u2026 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.<\/p>\n

The Best Bits of Bathgate<\/h2>\n

We listed some of the best bits about Bathgate below, but feel free to add your thoughts in the forum!<\/p>\n

The 5 Sisters Zoo<\/a><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a fairly small zoo by comparison to nearby Edinburgh zoo \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n

The Beecraigs<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Beecraigs

Image: Dougie Milne Photography\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Bennie Museum<\/a><\/h3>\n

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<\/sup> century onwards, but there are a few little gems in there that give you a glimpse back through the ages.<\/p>\n

Cairnpapple Hill<\/a><\/h3>\n

We haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\"Cairnpapple

Image: alanf\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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!<\/p>\n

The Reconnect Regal Theatre<\/a><\/h3>\n

So if you are staying over it is important that you check out what\u2019s 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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n

Other Bathgate Attractions<\/h2>\n

Bathgate is chock-full of things to do and we couldn\u2019t fit them all into one place\u2026 but we shall try! Here are some other things to do in Bathgate that should be worth five minutes attention:<\/p>\n