Location: Mid Calder
Map: OS Landranger 65 (GR077678)
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Time: 2 hours
Terrain: paths, waymarks and signs
Calderwood stands on the high ground above Mid Calder and the confluence of the Murieston and Linhouse waters.
Start from the small, unsignposted car park in Bank Street, Mid Calder, on the B8046 to Pumpherston at the village's east end before the bridge over the River Almond. Walk back to the main road, cross to the entrance to Almondell and Calderwood Country Park and descend Gasworks Brae to two metal footbridges near the confluence of the Linhouse Water and Murieston Water.
Cross the right-hand bridge over the Murieston Water and continue to a fork at an information board. A trail waymark indicates the green (Birch), yellow (Hazel) and black (Oakbank) trails. Turn right and ascend the path into open grassland and woodland to gain the edge of the wooded gorge of the Murieston Water. Pass below pylons and continue to another signboard at a four-way junction. The path on the right leads to a footbridge over the Murieston Water.
Continue straight ahead on an initially less distinct path to another junction and keep left following green waymarks back into the woodland to another junction. Turn right and continue through fine woodland with occasional waymarks. Keep straight ahead at the next junction, descend to the Murieston Water and follow it to the A71 where the river has formed a large pool before passing through the culvert below the road.
Cross over the culvert and ascend to a prepared path leading rightwards to housing. Leave this for an earth path in the woodland behind the houses and follow it through a mixture of woodland and scrubland to join a path ascending from the footbridge over the Murieston Water, mentioned earlier.
This is signposted Kirk o' Calder and leads to a parallel tarmac path behind the houses. Where the tarmac path curves left back towards Mid Calder primary school, go straight ahead on a clear earth path through scattered woodland close to the road and the fence round the cemetery.
Continue ahead passing houses to gain the access track to Greenbank and descend this to exit on Mid Calder's main street at a small car park and pillar gateway. Turn right and follow the pavement back to Bank Street.
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