Livingston

Friday, midday

Check into the Mercure Livingston (doubles from £45, all.accor.com), a bolthole at the heart of this rapidly evolving new town.

1pm

Step back in time at the original Livingston Village with a hearty pub lunch at the whitewashed Livingston Inn.

2:30pm

Wander around taking in the historic architecture, before dropping down to the banks of the River Almond. Follow the waters as they snake east, checking out the info boards on the wildlife that now flourishes in the cleaned up river.

4pm

The centre of Livingston is one big modern retail hub - indulge.

7pm

Treat yourself to dinner at the Tower Restaurant in nearby Uphall. Modern Scottish cuisine is served in an atmospheric 16th century tower house that swims in legends and ghosts.

Saturday, 9am

Catch the train one stop to West Calder and pick up the new waymarked Shale Trail.

10am

Scan the QR codes on the wooden posts en route to learn more about the days when West Lothian was at the heart of world oil production.

Midday

Reward your efforts with lunch in the café at Almond Valley, or the picnic you picked up shopping yesterday.

1pm

Families can indulge in Almond Valley’s world of fun. The heritage museum delves back to the days when James ‘Paraffin’ Young put West Lothian on the map.

3pm

Tickets outside Old Firm matches are often available for Livingston home games and there is a refreshing family vibe at Almondvale.

7pm

Grab fish and chips at the Blue Lagoon and scoff them overlooking the Almond. The river, and Livingston, have come a long way since the days over a century ago when it ran yellow with pollution.

Sunday, 10am

Head for a hike up Dechmont Law for outstanding views. The nearby UFO trail goes all Mulder and Scully, leading to the site of the ‘Dechmont Woods Encounter’ in 1979.

There is free parking at the hotel and Scotrail (www.scotrail.co.uk) run trains to Livingston.