Linlithgow to Bo’ness by Airngath Hill

Sarah Muirhead

21 November 2023

After four late call-offs seven of us, Marion, Pam H, Willie, Denise, Jo, Richard and me, along with Cosmo and Megg, met at the Water Yett car park in Linlithgow to begin our walk.

Pam was brave enough to try the fancy unisex toilet, armed with her 10 pence piece, and Marion thought she would also give it a go. When Pam emerged the toilet announced that it was cleaning itself, took several minutes and then decided it was closed, so that was the end of Marion’s chances.

We set off east along the south side of Linlithgow Loch, below the Palace, and the sun was shining. There was a bit of pavement and then minor road walking as we turned north and over the M9. The private road to Grange (home of the Cadell family who made their money as iron-founders, and now available for weddings and exclusive corporate events) took us up and round Airngath Hill. (Henry Moubray Cadell was an eminent geologist and geographer, known for his work on the Moine Thrust and the oil-shale fields of West Lothian.)

Turning right onto a minor road we stopped at the high point of the walk (West Lothian Golf Club) for our group photo.

The Peakfinder app (thoroughly recommended) was put to good use to confirm that we could see Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin, Ben More and Stob Binnein, and Ben Ledi. On a really clear day we might have been able to see Ben Cruachan. The delights of Grangemouth oil refinery were spread out below us, and I wonder what changes there will be when it becomes a fuel import terminal.

From here it was down all the way, along the side of the golf course, through some new housing developments and a park, down the very steep School Brae and across the railway line to Bo’ness (Borrowstounness) Harbour. We turned west along the Kinneil Foreshore which is part of the John Muir Way and lunched at one of several very smart picnic tables. Unfortunately the weather had gone off a bit by this time and the dampness in the air made it feel colder than it really was. The Kinneil Foreshore Nature Reserve shows what can be done with reclaimed industrial land.

Crossing back over the railway line, we walked up hill and along the main drive to Kinneil House which follows the line of the Antonine Wall. Tucked behind the house we found the remains of James Watt’s workshop, where he conducted his early steam engine experiments with his business partner John Roebuck, co-founder of the Carron Ironworks. When Roebuck went bust, Watt moved to Birmingham where he went on to great things.

The Kinneil Estate was acquired by the Dukes of Hamilton in 1323, and Kinneil House (built around 1543) was their east of Scotland home. The Estate is now owned by Falkirk Council, and the house, which looks extremely sad is “cared for” by Historic Environment Scotland.

We climbed gently up through the Kinneil Estate woods to the top of Fisher Brae, which we followed down, back across the M9, to Linlithgow Bridge. Turning east through some leafy residential areas we rejoined Linlithgow Loch at the west end, from where it was a short walk back to the car park. 10 miles, nearly 300m ascent in 4.5 hours.

My anxieties about catching the Lochside Cafe before it closed at 4pm were completely unfounded! Six carrot cakes and the last fruit scone…

As Willie said on Tuesday “every day’s a school day”!

Best wishes
Sarah