BLACK TOOTHPASTE & THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER - A Walk in West Lothian

[@eileanvm]

A most captivating and enjoyable video Ed. Loved those shots of the church in the early morning sun. Sorry you suffered so, wearing the new boots. If we didn't make mistakes now and again, we would never learn, would we ? You had me laughing at your 'Whiter Teeth in 10 days' story! You have a lovely sense of humour. I'm pretty sure that I have walked up that hill, Cairnpapple, many moons ago. along with some friends. We went down some steps into a chamber. We'd just been to Roslin Chapel, and had been exploring the area. By car, for parts of it, in case you thought we'd walked all that way on foot. It is rather sad that humans aren't capable of walking far anymore. And, that it can be treacherous to walk on country roads. I must say, it is a puzzle how they managed to lift those massive stones, long ago.... And of course there's your music, which is always a pleasure to hear. I especially liked the heavy guitar stuff at the end. Better than what was playing inside the 'Four Marys' pub! Ha ha!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Eilean. Yes, I had the misfortune to be sat right beside one of the pub speakers with the music, so had to bury the mic under my shirt. It was a poorly composed bit of footage where the camera much preferred the light from the window than me.

[@colinblack7049]

Hi Ed, when I used to go to Keltie bridge caravan park in Callander, there was a pile of stones that I had assumed was where the farmer had dumped all the stones he came across. But it was actually an old burial ground.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Colin. Yes, piles of stones can mean anything. The Stone Gatherer knows exactly which piles are which.

[@brycehermon5939]

Another enjoyable and interesting video thanks Ed. It was great to see a beautiful blue sky and brilliant sunshine It was hard to imagine how cold it must have been but then I was sitting in my lounge in NZ where it's currently summer. Thanks again Ed. Loved the views.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Bryce.

[@egallagher41]

Hello you and Thank you for an "insight" we have missed, Jan and I have walked Linlithgow many times over the 2000's and never thought to go further though we knew there was a lot more there. well done you we will explore more now, and thanks for your hard work.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Try to avoid the main roads. I should probably have ventured a little further east into Beecraigs Country Park when coming down into Linlithgow, just to avoid the cars.

[@DannyTP1888]

Thanks Ed, another great video. Look forward to the next one.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers Danny.

[@ScottishKeys]

Brilliant video, Ed. My family are all from Linlithgow. I used to hing about the toon on the weekends as a young lad. I'm from Bishopton myself. That pint looks guid!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks.

[@mairimillar6606]

Thanks for another great video, Ed. My nana wanted me to be called Mary but my mum chose a variation on the theme 😊. Also, mum (92) says her household didn't have actual toothpaste, she remembers using soot from the fire. You've a good humour in your videos, Ed. Sent you a wee thank you. Mx

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks again. We weren't daft in the old days.

[@MrMaharg65]

That wee round face on that headstone looks a bit Pie Shaped 😂 Lovely video of an area I have no knowledge about. Beautiful scenery. Well Done 👏

[@EdExploresScotland]

I hadn't considered that, but you're right. Nice to see what appears to be a bit of humour carved into a gravestone.

[@Alfred_51]

Thanks for this Ed. My neck of the woods. Do more walks in West Lothian

[@EdExploresScotland]

It's a great area for walks.

[@barbaralandsborough2292]

Loved following you on your walk 😊

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Barbara.

[@Puffball-ll1ly]

That graveyard reminded me alot of the old abandoned church and graveyard in Loch Leven worth a wander around there and nice old pub in nearby village

[@EdExploresScotland]

Small villages can be very atmospheric with their church and pub and not much else.

[@Conzo71]

Thanks eddy, love your vids sir. One note is, see the huge boulders that made up part of the stone wall, I love to think that the road/path builders said to theirsel "fek that, incorporate it lads, incorporate it, that is noo the path" slanj

[@EdExploresScotland]

Yes, I like your train of thought. Two of those boulders were close together and massive, and you do have to wonder what they were doing there.

[@douglasg8827]

Monte Badonis, Ninnius's twelth battle of Arthur, Badon Hill north of Torphichan.

[@TRAVELTHROUGHTHEEARTH]

Quality content. Start a "castle and forts in SCOTLAND" series. Thanks for your quality videos

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. That sounds like a good idea. I'll chew it over.

[@chrisreilly8021]

Love the video. What is that incredible music @4:25?

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Chris. I make my own music for the videos using Cubase Elements software and sometimes real guitar and vocal.

[@chrisreilly8021]

@@EdExploresScotland It really reminds me of Mike Oldfield or something. I keep coming back to listen to it!

[@jimforrest8796]

My local area, much maligned West Lothian is actually drop dead gorgeous in parts. The roads you were on are is my regular cycle routes. However you need an electric bike to cycle in the Bathgate hills. Four Mary’s is a semi-regular of mine. Food and beer are good.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Jim. It is indeed a cracking area, with loads of walks and loads of history.

[@mairimillar6606]

Thanks!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Mairi.

[@Broxbhoy1]

18:40 Paused here to give you some info Ed. This is my local area and I regularly go walking around this part. Cockleroy hill had a huge Fort on the south side which is long gone. There's a hollow on Cockleroy on the south east face called Williams Bed and is where William Wallace was said to have slept before the battle of Falkirk in 1298. Just literally 100 yds along the road to the entrance of Torphican hill is the old Silver Mines, a huge man made landscape that is still easily explored. If you look at a satellite view of the area you will see long ridges on the sheltered east facing side of most hills in the area which is a giveaway. Even as you wandered in through the gate to Torphican hill there's an old quarry immediately to your right. A massive horseshoe shaped gouge which is easy to miss.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Brian. It's a great area for walking in, no doubt. I got a little confused at one point in the video. I'm not sure what hill you mean when you mention 'Torphican' Hill. For me, Kipps Hill was a hill worthy of further exploration. Take care.

[@francismccann3811]

Need to ask how did you get to Torphichen was it a bus from linlithgow quite fancy doing this walk

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Francis. I always use bustimes.org. All you have to do is search for bustimes.org and the start and end location. The following page should then come up: bustimes.org/services/31-bathgate-livingston-via-linlithgow To be honest, there's a lot of roads, and the total lack of any pavement made this too dangerous too much of the time. For that reason alone I would advise planning a different route that took in more off-road tracks.

[@bertifrasilmeye995]

Hi Ed,the word torp in Swedish is... a croft , maybe you knew that.Enjoyed as per. Atb

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers. 👍

[@borderlands6606]

Boots are a strange one. You can pay a fortune and be crippled, or get something comfy from the supermarket. I don't get more than 18months from a pair whatever I pay. Margaret is one of those names, south of the border. You could say it to a group of a certain age, and six heads would bob up. The preceptory sounds like something from an M R James story, mind where you dig.

[@EdExploresScotland]

You're absolutely right about boots. There's a spot just off the front of the ankle that if rubbed or in contact with the tongue of the boots can cause real issues. I've now got swollen feet.

[@borderlands6606]

@@EdExploresScotland I know the exact spot. Rub coal on it.

[@imminentdisaster]

Love you dearly even though you walk like Chaplin

[@EdExploresScotland]

'Twas bad-fitting boots wot did it!

[@qtronicqilt8898]

@@EdExploresScotland "naw it wisnae"