Bathgate Travel Guide - Scotland

Bathgate is a lovely town located in West Lothian, Scotland. It has a long history of being inhabited, with much evidence pointing to the earliest residents dating back as far as 3,500 B.C. Since that time it has played a role throughout Scottish history, with a number of famous events and people hailing from the area in and around Bathgate.

In the early 1300’s, Bathgate Castle was built as a wedding gift from Robert The Bruce to his daughter Marjorie. It was inhabited for over 100 years, but then fell into disrepair; only a few remnants of it are still visible to those who make the effort to look for them. For the most part, though, Bathgate has long since moved on to different things.

Over its history Bathgate has seen a series of industries and endeavours come and go. During the early 1700’s it was a popular stopping spot for coaches travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh, while later in that century Bathgate saw construction of a large brewery and maltings. Eventually the brewery and maltings were joined by the Glenmavis Distillery as well as a number of quarries in the surrounding area. For many years some of the highest quality coal, ironstone, and lime came from the area around Bathgate.

This pattern of boom and bust continued for Bathgate well into the middle 20^th century, causing plenty of heartache as well as uncertainty for the townspeople. In the last couple of decades, however, Bathgate has seen resurgence as a place where families can safely raise their children and visitors can greatly enjoy their time spent in the town.

Some of the favourite places to visit while in Bathgate include the historic Old Bathgate Parish Church and the Bennie Museum. Both of these places give visitors a good picture of Bathgate’s history as well as the characteristics that make Bathgate so special. The downtown area of Bathgate is also a favourite destination, thanks to its pedestrian-friendly streets, abundance of terrific shops and eateries, and of course, a population of extremely friendly and hospitable people. You’re never far away from a new friend when you’re in Bathgate; maybe that’s why it is well known for being a “home away from home” type of place.

Be sure to visit historic Bathgate High Church while you’re in town, and plan to spend some time exploring the Steelyard area. There you will find a lovely town centre, including a unique steel fountain and some of Bathgate’s interesting Map Stones. For a taste of local arts and culture there’s always the Regal Community Theatre, where you’re bound to find a performance of some sort playing during most times of the year. And if you are interested in an easy day trip, be sure to visit Cairnpapple Hill. There you will find a Neolithic burial site, home to a wide variety of rituals and Scottish traditions for nearly 4,000 years or so.

For sheer traditional Scottish heritage and fun, though, you can’t do any better than the Bathgate & West Lothian Highland Games. This traditional gathering takes place at the end of May, filling Meadow Park in Bathgate with music, dance, and of course the traditional Scottish games and activities. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy during the games, with special children’s attractions set up as well as plenty of opportunities to see such challenging heavy events as putting the stane, putting the shot, throwing of the Scots hammer, and caber tossing. It’s a day filled with great fun, and it’s well worth spending the day as a spectator.

Getting to and from Bathgate is easy, as it is located on the M8 Motorway. The nearest airport is Edinburgh Airport, making it simple to get an airline flight into the area followed by either hiring a car of your own or taking one of the several buses that link Bathgate with area towns such as Blackburn, Fauldhouse, and Livingston.