Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

February 2023

The access and path improvement works that have been ongoing over the winter are now complete and being enjoyed by our visitors.  Handrails have been installed on our accessible ramped paths and partial surfacing and damage repair following flooding have been made to river and woodland paths around Almondell.  Improvements have also been made to drainage on the steps to Camps Viaduct and the steps to Powie's Path have been rebuilt.  Way-markers for four new signed routes have been installed utilising timber that was harvested from Almondell and cut on site using visiting mobile sawmill.  Additional finger-posts have been added and map boards will be updated to show indicated routes and enhance visitor experience. 

We are planning to make further improvements to path surfaces on Route 75 towards the end of March and will update accordingly. 

For further information please contact Almondell Visitor Centre - 01506 882254 / almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)

Woodland Management

Most of the woods were planted as part of Henry Erskine's Almondell Estate and now form part of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park.  In order to maintain the woods and public access in a healthy state for future generations, woodland management work is needed.  A Woodland Management Plan was approved by, and grant assistance secured from, Scottish Forestry under their Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) programme. Planned forestry work inevitably causes disruption in the Park but once restored will breathe new life into the woods. Information is also available in the Visitor Centre and a reference copy of the Almondell Woodland Management Plan is available at reception.

• Almondell Woodland Management [1MB]
• Almondell Woodland Management Map [2MB]

Replanting

Interested in helping

If you are interested in helping, please send your email or telephone contact details for "Almondell Tree Planting" to almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)  or call at the Visitor Centre.

Paths

Work has re-commencing for the final phase of the Woods In and Around Town (WIAT) project and will  continue until Christmas. Various section of internal paths will be closed for a few days at a time. Further details can be found within this map.  Almondell Path & Woodland Works - WIAT project [278KB]  

The path along the former Larch Wood has been completed, and the renewal of the path from the North Drive to the Mandela Bridge has also been upgraded. The landscaping of the North Car Park is still underway. Tree safety work followed by path improvement works are planned along the canal feeder to Powies Path as per notices on site.

Please take care and heed the safety notices or directions from the contractors.

Mobile sawing unit demonstration

In May 2021 a mobile sawing unit demonstration ran at Almondell with pupils from local primary schools attending and enjoyed seeing and learning about woodlands.

Grants and Funding

All the above projects would not be possible without the grants and other funding from NatureScot Better Places Green Recovery Fund, Scottish Forestry's Woods In and Around Towns Grant, planning contributions from Stirling Developments Ltd and West Lothian Council's Capital Fund.

Almondell Historic Wall Update 

• Almondell Historic Wall and Heritage Project

Thank you to visitors for your patience while work is ongoing.

• Almondell Exhibition Room Hire [203KB]
• Exhibition Area - Costs and Terms of Use 2023/24 [216KB]

• Room Hire at Almondell & Calderwood and Beecraigs 2022-2023 [1MB]
• Room hire at Almondell Calderwood and Beecraigs 2023-24 [179KB]