Polkemmet Country Park Circular
West Lothian
Polkemmet Country Park covers 169 hectares midway between Whitburn and Harthill, straddling the upper River Almond as it rises near Harthill and meanders through the former grounds of Polkemmet House. With no farm livestock in the park, dogs can range freely on the flat paths, though the golf course and driving range are out of bounds. The Baillie family house dated from 1620 and served as a wartime hospital and later a Girl Guides school before being demolished in the 1960s after opencast coal mining in the surrounding area; the park opened to the public in 1981. West Lothian Council signs more than 6.5km of trails through the park on the waymarked Blue and Red routes, mostly on flat, well-surfaced woodland and riverside paths. The restored stable block now houses a cafe and visitor facilities, and the wider park includes a golf course, driving range, bowling green and adventure play area.
This dog friendly walk is an easy, largely flat outing with high off-lead potential, since the park carries no farm livestock and the woodland and riverside paths are generally quiet. The River Almond gives dogs a chance to drink and paddle at several points along its banks. Keep dogs away from the golf course and driving range, where balls and golfers are a hazard, and consider a lead near the adventure play area if it is busy with children. The cafe in the old stable block and toilets make this an easy stop with no real planning needed. Parking is free across several car parks around the park's edge.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.0 km (3.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Park, River, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Cafe and toilets at the visitor centre in the old stable block.
- Parking
- Several free West Lothian Council car parks around the park, including Golf, Driving Range and South car parks.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Polkemmet Country Park Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Greenbank Farm Cottage
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £572 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in West LothianFrequently Asked Questions
Is Polkemmet Country Park Circular dog friendly?
Polkemmet Country Park is a great choice for dog owners, earning a solid 8 out of 10 on our dog-friendly rating. The 169-hectare park has no farm livestock, well-surfaced woodland and riverside paths, and the River Almond running through it gives dogs plenty of opportunities to drink and paddle along the way.
Can dogs be off lead at Polkemmet Country Park Circular?
Off-lead potential here is high — with no farm livestock in the park and mostly quiet woodland and riverside paths, dogs can range pretty freely for much of the route. The main exceptions are the golf course and driving range, which are out of bounds, and it's worth popping a lead on near the adventure play area if it's busy with children.
What should I know before visiting Polkemmet Country Park Circular with my dog?
This is an easy, largely flat outing with few logistical headaches — parking is free across several car parks around the park's edge, and the restored stable block houses a cafe and toilets so there's no need for much advance planning. Just keep your dog away from the golf course and driving range, where errant balls and golfers make it an unsuitable area for them to roam.
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