The West Lothian Cycle Circuit is a 1km, tarmac, traffic-free circuit in Linlithgow which forms part of the £8 million national Cycling Facilities Fund (CFF) from Scottish Government and sportscotland.
Linlithgow Community Development Trust secured a £100,000 grant from sportscotland to build the circuit which is used regularly by West Lothian Clarion Cycle Club, Linlithgow Athletic Club, and other club and community groups.
President of the Linlithgow Athletic Club and member of West Lothian Clarion Cycling Club, Angus Gallie labelled the facility as a “life saver” in maintaining his physical and mental wellbeing following recovery from significant brain surgery.
Angus, who does not have the confidence cycling on open roads following his surgery says: “Before surgery I obtained my cardio fitness through outdoor activities such as running and cycling, and this had been a big miss for me. Some months after surgery, I did manage to ride a two-wheel bike although mounting and dismounting was difficult with practice limited to car parks and very quiet sections of country roads.” 
He added: “As well as the physical benefit of exercise there’s the mental benefit of being outdoors and doing something with others and we always grab a chat and a coffee afterwards.”
Angus completes an hour’s session every week accompanied by friend Iain Henry. The competitive instinct is still there for Angus who was involved in the ‘twelve laps of Christmas’ organised by the West Lothian Clarion Cycle Club.
Iain said: “It’s great to see Angus’ improvement with his coordination and confidence, and the circuit has been a big part of that because it's completely a traffic-free safe environment. It's very flexible, you can plan for short distances to longer circuits so Angus can start and stop whenever he wants.”
A hub of community activity
The West Lothian Cycle Circuit is helping people of all ages and abilities improve their physical and mental health and creating a more sustainable, active and better-connected community.
Angus said: “The Clarion has a really strong youth section and without a safe place to do their routine and training you're looking for quiet roads and industrial estates. It's not just Clarion, clubs from all over Scotland and senior cyclists have an opportunity to come and compete. Recently we had a whole day of circuit racing for all ages and we hold events like that here regularly.”
West Lothian Clarion Cycling Club has more than 290 members including 101 youths. The youth coaching develops skills, with the goal of making cyclists for life and getting families involved. The club also provides opportunities for competitive cycling, identifying, and nurturing potential racers.
Iain said: “The circuit has been a fantastic investment for so many people in the area.
"It's important to the community and the next generation because there's so many things be involved in, such as mountain biking, gravel biking, cyclo-cross… this is a great encouragement to bring them along as members of a club with a solid structure.”
Shared community values
Linlithgow Athletic Club has over 200 members with a regular evening session for coached adult running. The club also sponsors a weekly free junior parkrun for 4- to 14-year-olds, every Sunday. The parkrun ensures children are safe while encouraging them to exercise and has welcomed 2600+ runners over 46 events, plus 110 volunteers and marshals.
Linlithgow Athletics club held a social event at the circuit, where members ran to the local food bank to deliver supplies. An inaugural Flat ‘n Fast 5K was organised through sportscotland and is labelled as one of the fastest 5Ks in Scotland because of the smooth tarmac surface.
Linlithgow Athletics club coach, Geoff Pendrill said: “On a Thursday evening we used to run on the streets and in winter there’s issues around visibility, crossing roads and runners’ safety. When the circuit opened, we moved here through some work that Angus had done.”
Geoff added:
“From a coaching perspective, it’s a really versatile space.
"I can stand in the middle and see everybody at the same time to observe their technique and modify the course and coaching sessions easily while ensuring safety.”
Jill Horsburgh, a member of Linlithgow Athletics Club for 10 years said: “For a community with a lot of young people and families, it's great to be able to get out in a safe environment. People can learn how to ride a bike, develop skills, and run safely, as well as train and socialise in an enclosed, well-lit environment. It’s also used by wheelchair users.”
Creating a lasting impact
The West Lothian Cycle Circuit is one of 41 projects that has received investment through the Cycling Facilities Fund.
The CFF has created a legacy beyond the UCI Cycling World Championships by supporting the growing network of accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities that encourage people of all ages to ride bikes.
The historic and innovative event, hosted in Glasgow from 3-13 August 2023, brought together 13 UCI World Championships for different cycling disciplines into one mega event for the first time in history.
Find out more
- Cycling takes centre stage - Sport First
- West Lothian Cycle Circuit – A world class facility: let's get more people cycling
- Community cycling on the right track - Sport First
- West Lothian Clarion Cycling Club
- Linlithgow Athletic Club
