Beecraigs Country Park has been recognised as a great place to visit through receiving Visit Scotland 4 star Visitor Attraction award.

4 Star Visitor Attraction

Beecraigs Country Park

Beecraigs Country Park is a great place to visit. It caters for a wide range of leisure and recreational activities within its 370 hectares (913 acres) and can be discovered nestled high in the Bathgate Hills near the historic town of Linlithgow.

Latest news

Update 19/4/19 - Tree Felling next to Cockleroy Car Park, Beecraigs Country Park

Cockleroy Hill path and car park have now been reopened.

Update 11/4/19 - Tree Felling next to Cockleroy Car Park, Beecraigs Country Park

Cockleroy Forestry Operations

The path to Cockleroy Hill has been re-opened after recent tree felling work. The car park remains closed, but it will be tidied up and reopened in time for the Easter Weekend. This will allow access for the Linlithgow Churches Together Easter Day service on the top of the hill, overlooking Linlithgow and the surrounding countryside, and also the traditional Easter egg rolling!

The woodland at Beecraigs Country Park is carefully managed by the council to provide a fantastic resource for local residents to enjoy our stunning natural environment. We balance the needs of retaining woodland areas to provide shelter for visitors and wildlife alike and, at the same time, ensuring that the woodland is regenerated for visitors to enjoy in the future.

A long-term forest plan was approved in 2013 by both the council and the Forestry Commission Scotland. This includes the plans for the gradual regeneration of the forest, such as tree felling, thinning and replanting as required, especially in areas where high winds have affected trees. Any income generated by tree felling is put back into replanting, path upgrading and drainage improvements at Beecraigs and in other woods.

The majority of the area of Sitka spruce which has been felled at Cockleroy is owned by the neighbouring farmer. A smaller number of trees have been felled on an adjacent area of council-owned land after both were affected by wind. The area of Scots pine on the top of the hill has largely been retained, and it is our intention to replant the felled area on council land with Silver birch, Oak and Scots pine.

Many local residents are well aware that Beecraigs is a managed woodland, and we take steps to ensure they are kept informed of any work that is ongoing. Prior to each phase of felling and replanting / thinning work, temporary noticeboards explaining the woodland operations were put up at appropriate locations around the country park and information placed on the council website and social media channels.

The timber produced from Beecraigs is Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and the woodland management is independently audited under the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). This includes ensuring that woodland management takes due cognisance of biodiversity, for example special care taken to protect badgers setts during the most recent work. Our management has been audited as part of a group scheme by forest ecologists who have praised the varied habitats and forest management which continues to enhance these.

The path to Cockleroy has now re-opened and we are working to get the car park re-opened in time for the traditional Easter activities next week. All the areas which were felled in previous years have been replanted, with a number of tree planting events giving young people and the wider public the opportunity to contribute to Beecraigs' new sustainable woodland for future generations.

Scottish Cross Country Association (SXC) event - 3rd to 5th May 2019

Beecraigs Country Park provides an outdoor experience for many types of user groups. From time to time the Park works with activity providers to agree provision of larger events and activities.

Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the Scottish Cross Country Association (SXC) will be hosting one of their 2019 mountain bike race dates here at Beecraigs. Preparation will be underway from Friday 3 May and the race will be on Sunday 5 May.

There will be a closure to the public of the routes that SXC will be using for their races. Please note that this closure will be in place from 08:00 on Saturday 4 May until 17:00 on Sunday 5 May.

pdf icon SCX MTB Race Temporary Closure Map [453kb]

This temporary measure has been approved to:

reduce the risk of injury to a member of the public or a contestant during the race activities
limit the closure to as short as period as possible

Signage will be out along the route and information is also available at the Visitor Centre, web site and social media. Spectators should follow any guidance provided by the SXC organisers.

Please help us by following all on-site signage and respect the restrictions in place.

For further information, please contact the Beecraigs Visitor Centre on 01506 284516 or mail@beecraigs.com

Forestry Operations Cockleroy - 4/3/19

From the 4th March 2019 tree felling work will take place at Cockleroy for approximately 1 month. During this time, the car park at Cockleroy will be closed and access to paths, trails and Cockleroy Hill will be restricted and may be closed for short periods of time.

pdf icon Cockleroy Forestry Notice [362kb]

pdf icon Forestry Operations Cockleroy [356kb]

Please follow all safety signs and instructions

Beecraigs Construction Works Underway

Recent visitors will have noticed that the new Hillhouse Car Park works are underway. These works will provide the Country Park much needed additional parking, within easy walking distance of the Visitor Centre, as well as a hireable Events Area. During these works, path diversions may be required to maintain public safety but we will endeavour to minimise any disruption to visitors walking between the Visitor Centre/Hillhouse and Balvormie. We ask that visitors follow the advice on signage and do not access the area when works are underway, as heavy plant movements will be in operation