Fourteen well-wrapped Ramblers gathered outside the Livingston Village Inn for our evening walk, setting off from the oldest building in the village, the Livingston Inn - once a busy stopover for weary travellers in the days of horse-drawn coaches. After welcoming Stuart and Karen on their very first outing with the group, we switched on our headtorches and made our way down to the River Almond.
Following the river into the New Town, our first stop was the Livingston Football Stadium. Here we learned how Meadowbank Thistle football club relocated from Edinburgh in 1995 thanks to the Livingston Development Corporation’s encouragement & they played under several names before becoming Livingston FC as we know it today.
Crossing the Almond again, we entered the Civic Centre Meadows. From our viewpoint we appreciated the scale of the Civic Centre complex, home to a whole “town” of public-sector officials since 2009 and one of the broadest partnerships of its kind in Britain. Moving through the parkland, we passed the Bridge of Remembrance, renamed in 2015 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. The bridge leads to the nearby war memorial, an important part of the area’s history.
Our route then continued to one of Livingston’s most iconic features: Livingston Skate Park. Opened in 1981, it was Scotland’s first purpose-built skate park and quickly gained international fame. Skaters travelled from around the world to experience its unique contours. Now a listed structure as of 2024, it remains a beloved landmark. With a few skaters taking a break during our visit, we couldn’t resist pausing for a quick group photo before sensibly continuing our journey on two feet.
Beside the quiet residential streets of Howden, named after places in Canada, we climbed to the top of the parkland and arrived at Howden House. Here we paused to explore the building’s rich past. Once the centre of the Over Howden estate, its owners included Henry Raeburn (son of the renowned portrait painter Sir Henry Raeburn) & the daughter of chemist James “Paraffin” Young. Tragedy struck in June 1940 when a bomb fell on the coach house and stables, claiming the lives of Maria Fleming and her ten-year-old granddaughter Margaret.
After the war, the estate took on many new roles: testing ground for agricultural machinery, headquarters of the Livingston Development Corporation, and later a community hub. Several members of our group shared memories of family attending the nursery once situated behind the house. We all agreed that although Howden House spent many years boarded up & graffiti-covered, it is heartening to see its façade preserved as the house & surrounding area has been sympathetically redeveloped.
With the scene set and knowing how much our group enjoys a good ghost tale, it was the perfect moment to revisit a local legend recently brought back into the spotlight. The White Lady of Howden, whose whispers have drifted through Livingston folklore for generations is said to glide along the tree line on quiet nights, a pale figure searching for something lost long ago. Earlier this year, a taxi driver was convinced he had seen her; his photo on Facebook caused a stir across town. The truth proved more worldly though. A local ghost-tour guide who works in Edinburgh had simply been walking home in full costume, including face paint however, you can’t help wondering whether the real White Lady was watching from the shadows that night, amused.
No spectral sighting awaited us this evening, but with smiles and perhaps just a little watchfulness toward the trees, we continued downhill through the park and followed peaceful paths back to Livingston Village.
Returning to the Inn, we were reminded that Robert Burns once stayed here & inspired by the local lassies, penned The Bonnie Lass of Livingston. Despite the chilly air, it was a wonderful evening of walking, talking, and discovering new stories about our local area. We rounded off the night with refreshments in the Inn and some relaxed social time before heading home. Photo credits: Ina G, UT & Nat C.
Our next evening walk takes place on Thursday 4th December, when we hope for clear skies to enjoy a spot of stargazing. For details of this and all upcoming walks, please visit the walk programme on our website.
Natalie C
