West Lothian

West Lothian sits between Edinburgh and Falkirk, its towns and villages reflecting a mix of old market heritage and modern development. Linlithgow is the standout for visitors, with its loch, ruined royal palace and handsome high street making it the county's most attractive base for a short break. Bathgate and Livingston are larger, busier places, the latter built as a new town and now a major shopping and business centre, useful for practical stays rather than sightseeing.

Broxburn and Uphall lie close together and retain traces of the shale oil industry that once shaped this area, while East Calder and Kirknewton offer quieter, more rural surroundings with easy access to open countryside. Together these towns and villages suit travellers wanting either convenient transport links and amenities, or a slower pace within reach of Edinburgh.

West Lothian sits neatly between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which makes it useful for anyone wanting to explore the central belt without paying capital city prices. Livingston has the biggest cluster of hotels, including the Mercure Livingston Hotel and Livingston Lodge Hotel, handy for the town's shopping and business parks, while Linlithgow offers a more historic base near the palace and loch.

Further out, the countryside brings a different style of stay. Macdonald Houstoun House and Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club near Kirknewton suit those wanting golf and grounds, while smaller B&Bs such as Wester Muirhouse, Arden Country House and Ashcroft Farmhouse near Broxburn and East Calder give a quieter, farmhouse feel. Bathgate and Uphall add further options for travellers passing through on the M8 corridor.

West Lothian sits easily between Edinburgh and Falkirk, and its attractions reflect that in-between character: royal history in Linlithgow, country parks around Livingston and Broxburn, and family days out that need no long drive to reach. Linlithgow Palace and The Linlithgow Story Museum anchor the historic end of things, with the Spy Mission Treasure Trail giving the town's streets a game to follow.

For an outdoor day, Beecraigs Country Park, Almondell and Calderwood Country Park and Muiravonside Country Park each offer woodland and water without straying far from Bathgate or Kirknewton. Younger visitors are well served too, from the Scottish Owl Centre and Almond Valley Heritage Trust to Livingston Skate Park and Potter Around, so a wet afternoon or a sunny one both have somewhere to go.

Linlithgow makes the strongest case for an evening out, its High Street and loch-side setting drawing diners to a mix of traditional pubs and independent restaurants, with places like Above the Elm showing the range on offer. Bathgate and Livingston carry the bulk of everyday choice, from Indian restaurants such as Bayleaf and Ashmaan Tandoori to quick coffee stops like Caffe Nero and Oriana's Coffee Shop.

Livingston's size means chains and shopping-centre cafes sit alongside smaller family-run spots, useful if you want something reliable between errands. East Calder is quieter, better suited to a local pub lunch than a big night out. Across the county the choice runs from cafes and bakeries to tandoori houses and coffee shops, so it is worth deciding whether you want a sit-down meal or something quicker before picking a town.

West Lothian's self-catering cottages suit those wanting a base between Edinburgh and the M8 corridor without the city prices, or a quieter stay near the Pentland Hills and the Union Canal. Properties like Beech Cottage, Garden Cottage and Honeysuckle Cottage tend towards converted farm buildings and stone cottages set around working farms or small estates, often with gardens or outbuildings of their own.

Crosswoodhill Wing and Carribber Beech point to the more rural, upland side of the county, good for walking and getting away from things, while others sit closer to Linlithgow, Bathgate and the smaller villages, handy for the train line into Edinburgh. Booking depends largely on how much you want peace and space versus easy access to towns and transport links.