West Lothian: Linlithgow's 'world class' £1.25m cycle circuit to open to the public

A £1.25m world-class community outdoor cycling circuit is set to open in West Lothian.

The West Lothian Cycle Circuit, which has been supported by the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Katie Archibald and Ben Rowlings is a ten-year vision from the local community who have been at the heart of its inception.

It was built to promote and encourage grassroots cycling and improve physical and mental health in the area.

The kilometre-long traffic-free, tarmac circuit made up of four loops is fenced and floodlit for safe all year-round use.

Linlithgow Community Development Trust (LCDT) has created the circuit to support both professional cyclists – it is being offered as a training facility for athletes coming to Scotland for the UCI World Cycling Championships this summer – and the local community.

It’s taken just over a year to build the circuit in south east Linlithgow, but it’s been over a decade in the planning after LCDT first conceived the plan at community consultation in 2012.

This Saturday will see the circuit officially open to people of all ages. There will be a range of activities all day including cycle coaching for adults.

LCDT board member, Matthew Ball, said: “For people who have maybe not ridden for a while it is that confidence boost because that’s what you really need to get on your bike.

“From a coaching aspect we’ve been coaching in car parks and on grass, now we have this amazing facility we can really start developing the next generation so it’s great for boys and girls to get together and train and coach and also build community.

“It’s also developing skills and fitness in a safe environment so parents are really happy now to have their kids riding on road bikes because there are no cars involved, no dogs running across so it’s perfectly safe.”

Carole Racionzer chair of LCDT said: “It’s about active travel as well so we are hoping to have people who might be skating, scooting, on accessible bikes, we have disability organisations who are interesting in use it, triathlon teams – a whole range of people who are going to benefit from this.”

Forbes Dunlop, chief executive, of SportScotland said: “The aim of the Cycling Facilities Fund is to deliver a lasting impact from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships by inspiring new and existing cyclists to make cycling a sport for life.

“The ambitious project created here in Linlithgow is a fantastic example of how communities across Scotland can harness the opportunities offered by the fund to deliver inclusive cycling facilities and improve the health and wellbeing of their local area. Congratulations to everyone involved in making the West Lothian Cycling Circuit a reality.”