2. BEECRAIGS COUNTRY PARK This Country Park covering almost 1,000 acres near Linlithgow offers lots of activities. It has a range of guided walks and offers many recreational activities, such as orienteering. There is also a campi
ng/caravan site so if it’s more than a day trip you’re after, you can enjoy everything on offer at your leisure.
www.beecraigs.com 3. RIVER AVON HERITAGE Spanning nine miles of country between Avonbridge and Linlithgow, the River Avon Heritage Trail offers spectacular views of the area. The trail can be a little muddy and rough but walkers can enjoy the scenery and wildlife as the river winds round the countryside, along with cultural, geological and historical features, such as Wallace’s Cave.
4. KILSYTH WALK Kilsyth is a great area for a wide range of routes for walkers of all abilities. Pathways and country trails are well maintained and there are many places of interest such as Banton Loch, an 18th-century reservoir for the Forth and Clyde canal located in the Colzium and Lennox Estate, and the Kelvin Valley.
www.csft.org.uk5. ALMONDELL & CALDER-WOOD COUNTRY PARK In the valley of the River Almond, stretching for a mile and a half between Broxburn and East Calder the two previously private estates offer interesting contrasts: Calderwood is natural woodland, with much wildlife, left largely untouched with muddy, unpaved paths ideal for mountain bikers and walkers. Almondell has clear paths, ideal for families out for a stroll.
• Simon Rennie is chief executive of Central Scotland Forest Trust
www.csft.org.uk
The full article contains 350 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
