Whitrigg Community Woodland - East Whitburn
Whitrigg Community Woodland, or Whitrigg Bing as it is also known, is located on the edge of East Whitburn. For much of the 20th Century it was a busy colliery but has since been redeveloped into an attractive mosaic of woodland and open habitats, with a variety of surfaced and unsurfaced paths.
The focus of the path network is the Whitrigg Circular, a 1.2 mile loop around the northern half of the site. This takes you to the top of the bing, from where you can take in the airy countryside views.
Things to do | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildlife Watching | Dog Walking | Cycling | Relaxation | Walking |
Access on site
The old railway path (core path WL19 to Foulshiels) runs along the westernmost edge of the site. In the north this can be accessed from the A705 via either Redlands Court or Redmill View/Pretoria Cottages. In the west it can be accessed from Hen's Nest Road via Crofters Way or Crofters Gate. The Whitrigg Circular crosses the Copart access road off the A705 and can be joined directly from there.
Parking
Off-road parking is limited along the entrance road (off the A705) to Copart Used & Salvage Car Auctions. This road can be busy with large lorries and other site traffic, so park sensibly.
Toilets
Automated public toilets are located in the Council car park on Armadale Road, Whitburn, EH47 0RA.
How to get there
Whitrigg Community Woodland is located in Redmill, East Whitburn, and can be reached by car via Main Steet (A705). From the M8 take Junction 4.
There are bus stops at Redmill on the A705: 26 (First, Livingston North to Bathgate); 34A (Stuarts, Lanark to Livingston); 600 (First, Whitburn to Kirkliston); X22 (First, Shotts to Edinburgh); and X27 (Lothian, Whitburn to Edinburgh). There are no railway stations within easy reach of Whitrigg.
| Ownership | West Lothian Council |
| Designations | Local Biodiversity Site |
| Size | 36.5ha |
| Grid Reference | NS966650 |
Wildlife and Habitats
A diverse mix of conifer/broadleaf woodland, open grassland and heath. Given its former history there are few big old trees, but the planted woodland is now well established, and natural woodland regeneration is occurring. The unique properties of the bing's spent coal shale have resulted in an 'island' habitat distinct from the land that surrounds it. In contrast to the woodland, the bing is predominantly an open heath environment with heather, broom and scrub.
Look out for
Roe deer in the woodlands, buzzards in the sky, colourful wildflowers and Common Blue butterflies on the bing. Alpine and Fir clubmoss are present on the bing, both of which are rare in West Lothian.
In-depth description
History
This was farmland until the early 1900s, at which point the Whitrigg Colliery (also known as 'Lady of the Dales') began operations. It had a peak workforce of over 1200 in 1952, with an annual output of 300,000 tonnes. The colliery and its railways grew over the years, as did the associated spoil heaps.
The pit was closed by the National Coal Board in 1972. Restoration work began in the 1980s and involved levelling and grading the colliery spoil tips. The principal spoil tip to the south was largely retained and now forms the high point of the site. This is now a unique heathland habitat and a valued open space for local residents. Woodland was planted in the 1980s and 1990s, and paths and signage installed. Today, a commemorative brick 'wheel' on the path marks the location of the old pit.
Projects / Community groups
The East Whitburn Children's Gala Day Committee refurbished the commemorative pit wheel in 2016. The group also received Village Improvement Fund money to install a mining memorial bench alongside the wheel. A local community group carries out an annual litter pick.
