Home Report Whitburn

Whitburn is a former mining town of roughly 10,500 people in West Lothian. Whitburn has the unique feature of being almost halfway between Scotland’s two largest cities: about 23 miles east of Glasgow and 22 miles west of Edinburgh. The nearest major towns are Bathgate which is roughly 4 miles northeast of Whitburn, and Livingston, 6 miles east of Whitburn.

The town as we know it today took shape around iron and coal mining. These raw materials were mined extensively in the 19th and 20th centuries and brought employment and prosperity to the town. Today, while these industries have since gone, Whitburn still has an array of local industries and services dotted throughout the town as well as in the Burnhouse Industrial Estate providing employment to residents. The town is also as a dormitory town for residents working in Edinburgh, Bathgate, and Livingston, as well as other nearby settlements.

When it comes to transport links for commuters, they must rely on road to get around. The A705 road passes through the town going straight to Livingston, while the M8 main trunk road in the region passes the north of the town with very easy and fast connections. Travel time to Glasgow city centre and Edinburgh city centre is approximately 32 minutes and 35 minutes respectively.

As for amenities in the town, Whitburn does have an array of its own local independent shops that you would expect for a town of this size including several supermarkets, chemists, vets, cafes, takeaways, and other eateries. However, for a much wider range of amenities and services, residents must nip along the road to Bathgate or Livingston but thankfully both are short journeys away.

Other noteworthy aspects to mention are the annual town gala day on the 4th Saturday in June. This involves a popular parade through the town, followed by games and races at King George V Park. The gala day is part of a week of activities known as the “Civic Week”; this also includes a fairground and fireworks display. Polkemmet Country Park is also on the doorstep of the town to the west and incorporates woodland, a golf course, cafe, and play area all in one place. The park is also locally famous for the Polkemmet Horn – a literal horn 24 metres high – which can be seen from the M8 motorway to the north of the park.

In terms of local schooling then, Whitburn has five primary schools, four of which have nurseries within. These five schools are Burnhouse Primary, Croftmalloch Primary, Polkemmet Primary, St Joseph’s Primary and Whitdale Primary School. The local secondary school is Whitburn Academy. Its catchment area is the town of Whitburn and the surrounding villages of Fauldhouse, Longridge, East Whitburn, Stoneyburn, and Greenrigg.