21. Wairdlaw Quarry, south of Beecraigs Country Park Bathgate Hills
Situated south of Beecraigs Country Park, this quarry worked a small outcrop of limestone which occurs within the lavas of the Bathgate Hills. There are also well-preserved limekilns nearby.
Wairdlaw Quarry offers a quiet walk in the vicinity of Beecraigs Country Park, with views eastward towards Arthur's Seat. The quarry was formerly worked for limestone that occurs in a small outcrop within the lavas of the Bathgate Hills. The site also includes a small quartz-dolerite quarry to the north-east of the main limestone quarry (quartz-dolerite is a variety of dolerite which is common locally and contains small amounts of quartz). There are some well-preserved limekilns to the west of Wairdlaw Farm. These date from the early 19th century and are a remarkable complete range of two single-draw kilns with semi-circular arched draw holes. As well as the limestone and quartz-dolerite, mudstone can also be found at this site.
Wairdlaw Quarry can be reached from the nearby Beecraigs Country Park, although the route is heavily overgrown. Nearby sites are Cairnpapple Hill (20), Witch Craig Wall (39), Cockleroy Hill (40) and Beecraigs Quarry (41).
