Witchcraig - Wairdlaw - Beecraigs - Witchcraig

Morley Sewell

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

Having passed through the ornamental gates of the Scottish Korean War Memorial, the route follows a tarmac path behind the pagoda-like building of the memorial itself and then turns towards the hill. A flight of steps up the steeper part of the hill leads to a moorland path, indicated by a signpost marked with a double patriarchal cross, which points the way to the medieval Stone of Refuge on the top of Witchcraig Hill. The Stone, with its bas-relief crosses on each side, is embedded in a low wall about 30m over the crest. Leaving the memorial site, the path leads over and down the hill, with an extensive view over Lochcote Reservoir and across the Forth Valley and Grangemouth Refineries to the Ochil Hills beyond. From here the walk runs along a well-waymarked route between the hill and a plantation of conifers and various shrubs. After crossing another stile, the path curves to the left through the plantation, crosses a shallow valley and runs diagonally up and along the slope below Wairdlaw Farm to reach a minor road at the top of the hill, over another stile.

The route then goes along the southern edge of Beecraigs Country Park before turning left and wending its way through the trees to reach a forest road. It then follows forest roads before passing through two small gates, over a stile and back across the shallow valley to the north of Witchcraig Hill. The more energetic can then climb back up the hill to reach the path back down to the War Memorial site, while others walk along the valley to meet the road and follow it for about a quarter of a mile back to the car park.

Scotland - Central Scotland - West Lothian - Bathgate Hills