Ballencrieff is a settlement in West Lothian, Scotland, situated equidistant between the towns of Bathgate and Torphichen and seven miles south of Linlithgow. Neighbouring towns are Armadale, Blackburn, Livingston, Stoneyburn and Whitburn. Edinburgh Airport is 16 miles (25 km) away, to the East. Ballencrieff is very close to the Neolithic burial site at Cairnpapple Hill, and the surrounding area shows signs of habitation since about 3500 BC. The name Ballencrieff comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Craoibhe meaning "Farm by the tree".

Ballencrieff Scottish Gaelic: Baile na Craoibhe
Park, Ballencreiff Toll, created from a former colliery, looking south
Ballencrieff Location within West Lothian
OS grid reference	NS974702
Civil parish	Bathgate
Council area	West Lothian
Lieutenancy area	West Lothian
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BATHGATE
Postcode district	EH48
Dialling code	01506
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish Parliament	Linlithgow
List of places UK Scotland 55.914°N 3.641°W / 55.914; -3.641

History

Medieval Ballencrieff (1300–1600)

In 1599, on the 25th of January, Alexander Hamilton became the first Baron of Ballencrieff (and his wife Christine the Baroness), by Crown Charter from King James VI.

Modern Ballencrieff (21st century)

The area is dominated by agriculture and is home to farms and fisheries, such as Ballencrieff Farm. The Ballencrieff Fishery is well known for its trout, and welcomes fly anglers in their hundreds every year. In addition, tourists are also attracted by West Lothian's famous Standing Stones monuments, which surround Ballencrieff. The quarterly magazine Lothian Life - formerly known as 'West Lothian Life' - is produced at Ballencrieff Toll.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ballencrieff, West Lothian.

• Scottish Parliament website, Place-names document, page 14
• Streetmap.co.uk, Map of Ballencrieff
• A Vision of Britain Through Time, Ballencrieff^{[permanent dead link]}
• VisitScotland.com, Ballencrieff Fishery
• Ballencrieff Fishery, official website
• The Megalithic Portal, Ballencrieff Standing Stones
• Lothian Life magazine
• West Lothian Life magazine, contact details

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