Lochcote Reservoir and Cockleroy Hill Walk
This walk in West Lothian visits the Lochcote Reservoir before a climb to the viewpoint on Cockleroy Hill.
The pretty lake and viewpoint are located in between Bathgate and Linlithgow.
Start the walk from the little village of Torphichen where you can follow country lanes north and then east to reach the reservoir. You continue east past the remains of the old castle before the climb to Cockleroy Hill. From the 278 metre high summit there are some excellent views back down to the lake and to the surrounding Bathgate Hills and countryside.
Cockleroy sits on the western edge of Beecraigs Country Park so it's easy to extend the walk if you have time. The park includes extensive woodland and the picturesque Beecraigs Loch on the eastern side of the site.
You could also continue north into Linlithgow where you can enjoy more waterside walks along Linlithgow Loch and the Union Canal on the Linlithgow Canal Walk.
Lochcote Reservoir Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Lochcote Reservoir Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Lochcote Reservoir OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Lochcote Reservoir Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the south east there's some interesting local history at Cairnpapple Hill. Here you'll find an ancient henge and a visitor centre where you can learn all about the bronze age history of the hill.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Lochcote Reservoir. The signed footpath from Torphichen to Linlithgow runs along the northwest edge of the reservoir.
Former Gardener's cottage in Lochcote estate, Bathgate Hills West Lothian. Must have been an important gardener to have a cottage of this size with a walled garden and Lochcote reservoir in the background.
Lochcote estate scenery
Loch Cote from Cockleroi. Loch Cote from Cockleroi Loch Cote at one time provided the water supply for Bo'ness about five miles to the north. The local spelling "Cockleroi" reflects the probable French origin of the name of Linlithgow's hill, suggested as "the cockaded hat of the king" (WF Hendrie), much more accurately than the corruption to "Cockleroy" found on recent OS maps.
The East Slope of Cockleroy
Cockleroy summit