Beecraigs Country Park
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Linlithgow
What it’s like
Free woodland park with a play area, cycling trails and a skills loop for bikes, plus miles of walking to tire everyone out.
There is no entry fee here, which is the first thing worth knowing, because a day out with woodland walks, a play area and mountain bike trails for nothing is rare enough to mention twice. Kids can loose themselves on the play stations, try the orienteering routes if you fancy turning the walk into a game, or take bikes to the skills area if yours are past the wobbly stage. If anyone in the house runs, there's a parkrun too.
It suits a morning or a whole day depending on how far you walk and whether the bikes come out. There isn't an age range given on the site, but the mix of play area, gentle trails and bike skills work covers pretty much anyone from toddling to teenage, and older kids get more out of the cycling side than the little ones will.
The Hideaway Café does breakfast and lunch, with gluten-free options listed, and it's open 9:30am to 4pm, though they suggest checking their Facebook page too. Bring a picnic instead if that suits your timings better, there are tables dotted about. Parking is free across six car parks, Hillhouse is the big one with disabled spaces, but the hours vary between them and by season, so check which gate you are leaving through before you park at the far end for the afternoon.
Dogs are welcome but need to be kept under control near livestock, which is a fair rule given this is a working park, not just a play park with trees round it. There's no overnight parking, so it is a day visit rather than a base for anything longer, unless you book one of the camping pitches or lodges.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No set age range; play area suits younger kids, trails and biking suit older ones
- Parking
- Six free car parks with varying summer (9am-6:30pm/9pm) and winter (9am-3:30pm/7pm) hours
- Food
- Hideaway Café with breakfast and lunch menu including 100% gluten-free options
- Dogs
- Must be under close control at all times, especially near livestock
- No EV charging on site, so plan your battery accordingly if you are driving an electric car.
- Some car parks do not always open at their stated times, so build in a bit of slack.
- The café suggests checking their Facebook page for up to date hours.
- Grass tent pitches only run April to October; the hardstanding ones work all year.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Getting in is free. You would only pay for food, camping or room hire.
Do we need to book?
No booking needed for a general visit. Camping, caravan pitches and the Sutherland Building room are bookable if you want them.
Is there parking?
Six free car parks, with Hillhouse the largest at 148 spaces including 8 disabled bays. Hours shift with the seasons, and there is no overnight parking.
What is there for younger kids?
The play area has a few different stations, and the woodland walks are easy enough for smaller legs. The site does not give a specific age range, so use your own judgement on how far a walk one will manage.
Can we cycle there?
There are mountain bike trails and a skills area, on top of the walking routes.
What about food?
The Hideaway Café serves breakfast and lunch, including gluten-free options, open 9:30am to 4pm. Picnic tables are around if you would rather bring your own.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are welcome but need to be under close control, particularly near livestock.
What are the Visitor Centre hours?
9am to 7pm in summer, 9am to 5pm in late summer, and 10am to 4pm in winter. It closes over Christmas and New Year.
Can we stay overnight?
There are hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up year-round, grass tent pitches from April to October, and two camping pods, but no overnight car parking outside of these.
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