Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

Based around two adjoining estates (Almondell and Calderwood) and with a history going back 340 million years to the time of the Carboniferous swamps, this area has much to offer its visitors.

• Almondell & Calderwood video (opens new window)
• Almondell and Calderwood Country Park Map [588KB]

Left undeveloped and unspoilt, Calderwood is a complete contrast to Almondell. This natural woodland, located on a plateau bounded by the Linhouse and Murieston Waters, is home to a wealth of wildlife. Roe deer, fox, heron and woodpecker all make their homes here, while the many oak and hazel trees provide food for the squirrels and wood mice. For this reason Calderwood has been designated a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Almondell History - Almondell History [1MB]

Community Heritage Trail -  Almondell Heritage Trail Leaflet [535KB]

Calderwood Path Work Project Public Engagement Results

As part of the management of Calderwood, several paths from the existing path network have been identified for upgrade to a Type-1 stone surface. Parks & Woodland carried out public engagement for this project from Thursday 20^th June - Thursday 11^th July, which allowed people to view the project details and submit comments. The results of the survey have been collated and are now detailed in the Calderwood Path Work Project Public Engagement Results document below. Following the comments received by people in the survey, alterations to the original project have been made. Please click the link below to view the PDF document. The original Public Engagement document is also available to view below

• Calderwood Path Work Project Public Engagement Results [4MB]
• Calderwood Path Work Project Public Engagement Document 2024 [3MB]

Work will begin on site from Monday 19^th August 2024, following the final permissions being received from NatureScot. A crown lift of the trees along the routes designated for path upgrades will be carried out before this, and this will be done to a 1.5m width and 3m height above the path. Work will begin at Gasworks Brae first, to comply with mitigation measures for protected species on site. It is hoped that the works elsewhere on site will be completed by October 2024. Where possible, access will be kept open for visitors and diversions will be put in place where required. Please follow all safety signage on site. Thank you

Visitor Centre Opening times

Due to staffing shortage, the Visitor Centre reception and shop area will be closed on the following dates. We apologise for any inconvenience caused -  Almondell Visitor Centre Closure [102KB]

Almondell & Calderwood is open throughout the year and admission is free.

Please note, Almondell Visitor Centre closes for lunch between 12.30-13.00.

The Visitor Centre and public toilets are closed on the 25 December and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.

Accessibility Guide

• Almondell & Calderwood Country Park Accessibility Guide 2024 [408KB]

Tariffs and Contact Details

Tariffs

• General Country Park Charges 2024/25 [77KB]

Contact - Telephone: 01506 882254

Email:  almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk

Customer and Satisfaction Feedback Survey
Please help us to improve our service to you by completing our survey - Parks & Woodland Customer Evaluation (opens new window)  

Almondell and Calderwood Country Park Room Hire

The Visitor Centre at Almondell & Calderwood Country Park is the ideal place for talks, presentations, small-scale conferences and meetings. It can also be cleared and used for practical workshops or classes.

The general purpose room has a comfortable capacity for 30 people. There is ample parking close to the Visitor Centre and the building is wheelchair accessible.

A range of refreshments are available to purchase from the Visitor Centre.

The hire cost for 2024/25 is £15.90 for the first hour and £14.30 each subsequent hour.

Almondell Woodland Management

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

A great start has been made to the replanting of the woodland along the South Drive. Over 150 volunteers of all ages, including pupils from East Calder and St Paul's Primary Schools, the Young Police Volunteer Group, a group undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh badge and the Friends of Almondell & Calderwood, all lent a hand to plant and protect 2000 oak, silver birch, alder, sycamore and Scots pine trees. More tree planting events are planned. Ornamental trees will be planted along the drive to give Spring and Autumn colour, with fruiting trees and shrubs along the edge of the Calderwood Development. Trees will be planted in gaps in the former Larch Wood as well as allowing young trees to grow up naturally from seed in the soil.

 

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.