Lochcote - The Hidden Loch - Bathgate Hills
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- Опубліковано 10 тра 2021
- A walk through the Bathgate hills in search of Lochcote. Starting at Cockleroy and heading through Beecraigs Country Park. Passing Beecraigs loch before heading over the WitchCraig, past Torphichen, and finally, to Lochcote, meeting the local wildlife and taking in the relaxing sounds of nature along the way.
Hope you enjoy it and thanks for watching!
Kris.
Full Route Map:
osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/r...
Cockleroy To Lochcote:
osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/r...
Cockleroy Start Point:
goo.gl/maps/VwGLgLLpCV2Kjm7Y6
Torphichen to Lochcote:
osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/r...
Torphichen Start Point:
goo.gl/maps/J1SWPxtNJZMukVfT8
I grew up in Bathgate and never even knew this existed. Must visit.
used to fish lochcote everyweek as a boy and this video has brought back a lot of precious memories for me first time ive seen the water in over 50 years there were some great specimens of fish in there it was owned by a law firm from edinburgh but we still fished it at night ofcourse
some braw broonies in loch cote.
Love scotland and its people,even called my oldest kirsty,thankyou so much really enjoyed your video debs.
Shalom .Thank you. Watching from Australia. 73 Praise the Lord 37
My grand father was the waterman for Loch Cote when it was run by the West Lothian council.
His work hut was to the right of where the vehicle tracks stop.
He would cut the grass slope & the flat top that ran along & measured the water levels.
I have photos of this taken in the late 60’s early 70’s.
I visited the Loch in September 2021 & remembered visiting my grandfather at the loch when I was very young.
That's fantastic Harry, I wonder how much of it has changed since then. Hopefully it's still as peaceful and quiet as you remember it. Thanks for the comment! Kris.
@@ScottishMountainGoat The work hut is no longer there & the large automated gates weren’t there when I was a kid…… we would drive up to the loch to see my grandad.
I’m presuming it’s all private now, but when I inspected the gates, they didn’t look like they’d been opened in many moons.
My grandad & my grand ashes are scattered in between the trees up to the loch.
If you’d like to see the photos I think you’ll find them quite interesting.
The next time I’m in near the area I can let you know if you’d like to see the photos from back in the day…… 👍🏻
*Grandma
This video was incredible, I love Scotland 🏴 Your video is beautifully done ☺️ I subscribed too.
Awcht, it was really great to accompany you on this wee trek. I moved away from West Lothian just 4 years ago (and only to South Lanarkshire!) - the land there stills hold my heart. So great to see you finding beauty in what’s often denigrated and seen as too ordinary to showcase ... Thanks!
Amazing video so peaceful. Cracking footage of the wildlife
great video I enjoyed watching. so colorful
Beautiful, thank you!
I love your storytelling videos and the footage is amazing and breathtaking. Pleasure to watch and listen. The mellow background music is almost unnoticeable but so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your world 🙏🏼
Appreciate the comment and thank you for watching!
Another beautiful video Kris. You have a real knack for making very informative, gentle, well shot content. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Leon! Appreciate it. Kris.
Excellent video mate, buttery smooth footage, very professional! Amazing wildlife footage, can appreciate the effort that has went into this 😄👍 well done!
Atb, James
Cheers James! Never work with kids or animals, isn't that what they say? 😂 Hope your bagging journey is going well! Cheers, Kris.
Amazing again Kris. A very tranquil place indeed. Cheers Paul
Cheers Paul!
Surprised I've never seen you up there yet. You're definitely a popular lad in the Bathgate Hills Facebook group. Great video.
Haha cheers Gaz. I know, I'm usually up and back before the carparks get busy 😄
What a brilliant video 🙏
Appreciate it, thanks alot!
Great informative video, great commentary and beautiful surroundings. My friend Jane spoke of your videos but I forgot your name. Instantly remembered when I saw this post in Bathgate Hills. Have now subscribed so as not to miss any more.
Thanks Helen! I'll need to thank Jane for sending you my way too ☺
My family on my father's side emigrated from a small place in Northern England, from the Peninsula, Barrow in Furness in the late 1800's. Oddly though I have never set foot in England or Scotland, Seeing the world, on the grounds of Scotland briefly brought immense emotion as you arrived at the loch. The videography, and the narration is terrific. Thank you so much for showing.
Thank you for your kind words, I'm very happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Kris, this is really great!
Cheers man! Could be a lunchtime walk from the office? 😄
Bonnie Bathgate. Quite the adventure, that was grand!
Cheers Tamson, much appreciated!
@@ScottishMountainGoat Nae borra ma man.
stummbled across your site , great video , i love a walk around the bathgate hills local to me 4 miles great work Atb K
Thanks mate! Yeah, you can't beat them. A cracking area. Almost made lockdown bearable having that on the doorstep 😄
Great video, brings out the beauty of the area. Just to the north of Lochcote (on Bowden Hill) is the remains of a iron age(?) hill fort - worth checking out. Go there every so often on a run. There is a harder to find trail across fields that will bring you out to the Linlithgow side of Cockleroy - you can have an almost scramble up the steep side
Thanks for the info Paul! So many little nooks and crannies up there, feels like you could spend a whole lifetime exploring it all! Ill need to try giving that cockleroy scramble a go!
Absolutely terrific video, many of my favourite wee local places.....who says west lothian isn't beautiful! Great video quality and magic voice-over 🙌
Cheers David! I know, there a plenty of nice places around here just takes a little searching 😉 Appreciate the comment! Cheers! Kris.
Thanks for this channel which helps me know where to explore in West Lothian
Your content is ridiculously good man.
Cheers Monty! Your channel is incredible as well. Keep up the good work man! 👍
This is my home stamping ground, so thank you - the video was beautifully shot and narrated. These hills are indeed a lovely part of Scotland. There are reputed to be some red squirrels in Beecraigs Forest, although I have never personally seen them. There is certainly a red deer farm, although I am fascinated to see that there are wild roe deer here too.
Thanks Neil! That would be amazing to see a red squirrel up there. Haven't seen any myself though but I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled for them
Yes there are Red Squirrels there but not many. I see them at the Western end of Guithries path as you climb up to the bomb hole.
Nice video, Like and Bye from Italy :)
This video is incredible! I inspire to be as good as you one day!
Perfect just Perfect...................👍
When you doing they meditation for sleep videos? A voice to soothe the soul 😊😁 Beautifully shot Kris, some amazing wildlife. Was there years ago doing Orienteering, never knew there was a Loch.
Haha cheers Kev! I've had it on my doorstep all these years but was too scared of the coos to go haha. Turns out there weren't any! 😅
This is my local haunt and has been for years. There are many hidden secrets around Lochcote like the ancient burial ground where the estate dogs and their owners are buried? The hidden swamp or the old Orchard carvings. The old roman forts and mines are particularly interesting too.
Usually the farmer (Aitken) takes umbrage to you walking from Lochcote along the doubletrack and especially going through the farm gates. He always states its not a right of way and insists you find another way around.
So much to explore up there, cheers for all the info! Hadn't heard anything about the farmer having issues but given there are signs in place pointing to cockleroy carpark, I think the issue might have been people passing through the farmers yard? I can understand that and access rights don't apply there. Cheers! Kris.
Awesome, new friend here sending all the support. Hope to see you around. Take care!
wow man just stumbled upon your channel, and what can a say the quality and the shots you got are amazing. what camera/drone do you use if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks Robbie, much appreciated! I use the Panasonic GH5 as my main camera and the DJI Mavic Air 2S for the aerial shots. Hope that helps!
Stunning video.
I was talking to friends about this place yesterday.
Good for a wildcamp?
Cheers! There are definitely some nice places to camp around the Bathgate hills. I'm not so sure about Lochcote though, There's a large house not far from the reservoir and signs everywhere saying it's private land. You might get moved on trying to camp there but I'm not 100% sure, Sorry!
Wonderful! I would love to explore these trails out on a run. How far was your trek?
Cheers Fraser! I've put the links to the OSmaps for the route in the description. Around 12.75km for the whole walk. Would make a nice wee circular run. Thanks! Kris.
@@ScottishMountainGoat Thanks so much. Always love your videos. Lovely to unwind to 😊
Thank you, S M G. I once visited a wee loch(an) in the Bathgate Hills which embraced the remnants of an *ancient crannog* (circa 1979). Is/was it Lochcote? Any information will be gratefully received.
All the best. Rab 👍 🍻 😎
Hi Rab. I did find some info on a crannog possibly being located in the original Lochcote (now drained) during my research. It may well have been Lochcote you visited. canmore.org.uk/site/47934/lochcote
Thanks, Kris.
That is the one, Kris! Thank you. I’ll keep the Canmore website in mind, in future.
Bye for now. Rab
PS. When I visited, circa 1979, the location, although 'drained', was more than drenched in April showers - with reflections from the gathering waters reflecting the history and past. To you and yours, from mine and me. R 💚
Beautiful video. Did you study cinematography?
Cheers Dougie! I took and interest a couple of years ago and caught the bug! 😁 Been self learning and trying to get better since then in my spare time.
@@ScottishMountainGoat time well spent, obviously
@@dougiemilnephotography756 Cheers Dougie, much appreciated!!
@@ScottishMountainGoat how do you achieve such smooth movement? Are you using a gimbal?
@@dougiemilnephotography756 Exactly, gimbal for some, tripod for the wildlife shots and a bit of software stabilisation during editing if needed
has anyone wild camped here ? looks like a nice spot.
is it fishable? permit required?
There are "No fishing" signs on the path up to and around the loch edge unfortunately. I'm not sure if you can get a permit but I've never seen anyone fishing on it. Sorry I couldn't be more help!
@@ScottishMountainGoat its been cleaned out by the locals only perch in there now i used to fish it as a boy there were some great specimens of fish in there rainbows broonies tigers nothing left now
You're Falconhoof and I claim my five pounds.
I'm Sorry traveller, but jester had the 5 pounds, and you have slain her. You can not have the 5 pounds.
@@ScottishMountainGoat 😂👍