Moving to Livingston/Edinburgh area, renting advice/share

Hi, after 8 brilliant years in Cardiff I need a change and have managed to get a job in Livingston. I've not even been to the place as my interview was held in Edinburgh but am hoping to live in/near the hospital to minimise the commute after long days. Quick access to local trails is also important!
I'm going to be renting and was after advice on where's good, or to house share if anyone has room from August.
Oh and I'll be needing someone to show me the trails on free weekends as well!

I live in Balerno, which is on the western edge of Edinburgh and also has direct access to the Pentlands. I used to work in Livingston and it's about 8-10 miles, depending on route. As the direction of travel for most people is from Livingston to Edinburgh the commute by driving was only about 15 minutes, with no traffic issues. It's also fairly pleasant by bike and takes about 40-45 minutes.

Not sure what the availability of rental accomodation or room shares is, but Balerno, Currie or Colinton would be my choice for location if working in Livingston.

Yeah I'd avoid living in Livingston itself. Certainly near the hospital anyway. It's just one big business park/industrial estate round there.

Now sure what other local trails are within riding distance (if that's what you mean) – Beecraigs?

GT/IL probs an hour away tops?

Cheers, I'd be ideally be using the bike for commuting as it's what I'm used to, I've survived until the age of 26 and have only just bought a car for the 'big move.' I'm guessing from your suggestions that they are slightly more salubrious than livingston?

cynic-al, it's the pentlands/other local stuff I don't want to be too far from, a drive to Glentress isn't a problem (I rode it last week which wasn't too bad though!)

GrahamS – Member
Yeah I'd avoid living in Livingston itself. Certainly near the hospital anyway. It's just one big business park/industrial estate round there.

Not true.

As like the majority of every town in Scotland the local planners have done a fine job of mixing the rough areas with the nice areas.

Less than a mile SW of the hospital is Livingston Village and it is very nice down there. Just south of the hospital is Howden, which isn't too bad as well. However, go north or east and it is a different kettle of fish.

Also, if you were to stay in Livingston then you would find that you could legally cycle on the pavements! Quite a pleasant novelty really.

Over the last few years I have managed to find some reasonable paths, trails and bridleways, certainly nothing that technical, but still pleasurable to cycle on 🙂

Linlithgow is well worth considering. Great wee town, good (if hilly) commute over to livy, 25 mins in the car to either Pentlands or Ochils and some nice local riding around Beecraigs, Muiravonside. Also a very active / burgeoning local club (West Lothian Clarion) and you are a bit nearer the 'proper riding' North around Perthshire and beyond 😉

I have lived in Livi for a good few years and there is a surprising amount of off road stuff for a new town. OK it's not gnarly but we can go for about 2 hours from where we stay (near Livi South Station)and barely go on a road. There is a whole network of paths between Livi and Mid/East Calder which are good for a quick hour blast and if we want a longer ride we can link up with the Union Canal and head out to the Pentlands or further into Edinburgh. My favourite long ride from home is to Craigie Farm (Kirkliston) and back which is 30 miles all in and has very little road in it but includes some ace singletrack and a tip top lunch at the farm cafe.

The place to avoid near the hospital is definitely Craigshill and possibly bits of Deans. Also avoid Knightsridge, Ladywell and parts of Dedridge and Howden. We're in Murieston which is very nice (relatively speaking), as are Eliburn and Kirkton. There will be loads of flats available to rent but some could be very dodgy. Livi village is nice as it has kept a bit of charm- most of Livi is pretty soul-less. The general build model is to have lots of different areas which each has perhaps a smallish centre with a couple of shops, take aways and usually a (rough) pub. The main "action" is the shopping centre (Almondvale/Elements/McArthur Glen) which has a big cinema, a Wetherspoons, a Pizza Express and other food places. It's a bit odd to got to the shopping centre for a night out though. There a night club for da yoof- Club Earth- but I haven't been there in years.

Post up if you need more info and once you get a place to stay let us kow if you want a tour of the local trails.

Lots of modern flats up by Livingston North train station, reasonable area and close to the hospital.

Fi – can you give me rough directionson how to get out to Kirkliston please? I am looking for a longer route to add to my list.

We head through the Almondell Country Park from East Calder direction and out towards Broxburn from the main access road to the car park but turn right and head towards Lookabootye (actual name- check the map!). You are basically heading for the canal. You join the canal and come off again at the Bridge Inn at Ratho. Don't turn right over the bridge but head left towards Newbridge and follow the road over the M8. There's an ace bit of singletrack through an old quarry and the grounds of the Norton House hotel that brings you out above Ratho Station. Cross over the A8 on the footbridge and head towards the Newbridge roundabout. When you get to the roundabout, rather than going over the main roads you can pick up an old railway line that heads towards and through Kirkliston. Come off this and go round the tank farm which takes you to the other side of Craigie Hill from West Craigie Farm which has an excellent farm shop and cafe. There's lots of excellent singletrack here so it's worth exploring. The alternative route back is when you get back to Ratho go round the side of the climbing centre- just before you come into Ratho there's a T junction and a small track leads up the hill on the right. You follow this and drop back onto the canal. Hope this all makes sense!

I know quite a few of those bits but there are a few more I'll have a look for next time I'm passing by. I've got a loop I sometimes do from Balerno – join up with the canal and follow it to Ratho, then via the road to the Newbridge roundabout to pick up the old railway line to South Queensferry. Then head west along the coast through the grounds of whatever that country house is, before heading back to the canal east of Linthgow and following it to Ratho then home. It's a nice easy 30 miles or so and quite pleasant and scenic in places. Adding a few singletrack bits would be nice though.

A friend of mine's selling a (2-bed, I think) flat very near the station in Livingston. Send me an email if you'd be interesting in buying rather than renting and I can put you in touch.

Cheers for the information guys, whyter I'm afraid it may only be a temporary thing so I'm not really interested in buying. If anyone knows anyone within the area looking for a housemate over the next few months put me in touch. Even as a temporary thing would be great, just until I find my feet.
Cheers, and I look forward to riding with you.
Dave

You could always buy yourself a cheap caravan and stay in the site in Beecraigs Country Park!

Might have a room going but it's east of Edinburgh by 4 miles and limited bike space.

fi – Member
We head through the Almondell Country Park from East Calder direction and out towards Broxburn from the main access road to the car park but turn right and head towards Lookabootye (actual name- check the map!). You are basically heading for the canal. You join the canal and come off again at the Bridge Inn at Ratho. Don't turn right over the bridge but head left towards Newbridge and follow the road over the M8. There's an ace bit of singletrack through an old quarry and the grounds of the Norton House hotel that brings you out above Ratho Station. Cross over the A8 on the footbridge and head towards the Newbridge roundabout. When you get to the roundabout, rather than going over the main roads you can pick up an old railway line that heads towards and through Kirkliston. Come off this and go round the tank farm which takes you to the other side of Craigie Hill from West Craigie Farm which has an excellent farm shop and cafe. There's lots of excellent singletrack here so it's worth exploring. The alternative route back is when you get back to Ratho go round the side of the climbing centre- just before you come into Ratho there's a T junction and a small track leads up the hill on the right. You follow this and drop back onto the canal. Hope this all makes sense!

Thank you Fi!

That does make sense 🙂

Yeah I'd avoid living in Livingston itself. Certainly near the hospital anyway. It's just one big business park/industrial estate round there.

spoken like someone who doesn't live there

As said before, Livingston is like anywhere (including Edinburgh) there's good areas and bad areas, and the good areas tend to back onto the bad areas and so forth.

Eliburn, Livi village, murieston are probably the nicest areas, just steer clear of anything that looks grey and could double as Sarajevo circa 91