Lothian (Lowden in Scots, Lodainn in Gaelic) actually means Border Country and although the current English border is some way away from West Lothian the same is not true for East Lothian, this is just the western extremity of the border region.

Geography

The local authority of West Lothian is slightly smaller than the historic county of West Lothian, which until 1921 was known as Linlighgowshire after the county town Linlithgow. However, both are bordered to the north by the Firth of Forth between Grangemouth and Edinburgh and to the south by the Pentland Hills.

History

The West Lothian Question

Almost anyone with an interest in British Politics and certainly anyone with an interest in the politics knows the name West Lothian because of the famous question asked by the counties MP Tam Daylell in his 1977 book Devolution: The End of Britain. The West Lothian Question.

Principal Towns

Until 1963 the ancient village of Livingston was surrounded by fields, there had been a settlement here on the banks of the River Almond since the 12th Century.

Linlithgow

Bathgate

Whitburn

Broxburn/Uphall

Armadale

West Calder

Sport in West Lothian

In 1995 Meadowbank Thistle, previously known as Ferranti Thistle before 1974 when they were in the East of Scotland League, moved from their home in the East end of Edinburgh to the new purpose built Almondvale Stadium, Livingston. Starting in Division 3¹ their rise to the top was meteroric winning the Third Division title that first season, Division 2 in 1998-9 and Division 1 in 2000-2001. Many predicted that after such a swift ascent that Livingston would be heading straight back down to the lower divisions after their first season in the Scottish Premier League. But Livingston defied expectations when in May 2002 they ended up third in their first season beaten only by the Old Firm Clubs, Celtic and Rangers.

Although the Ice Rink in Livingston has been closed fro some years Sinead and John Kerr have been British Ice Dance Champions from 2003-2005. They represented Britain at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin where they finished 10th.

Famous People from West Lothian

Alex Salmond twice leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party was born and raised in Linlithgow.

The tenth Doctor Who David Tennant was born David John McDonald in Bathgate while he father was a Church of Scotland Minister in the town. However, he spend most of his childhood in Renfrewshire when he father was called to another congregation.

Places of Interest

Other Places of Interest