Livingston is the largest town in West Lothian, a swathe of land west of Edinburgh, towards Glasgow, filled with small villages, towns and lots of fields and farmland in between. Livingston's location means its perfectly placed as a base for exploring the Lothians as well as Lanarkshire and up to Loch Lomond.
7 miles: Hilly Cow Wigwams, West Lothian
Hilly Cow Wigwams can be found at Leyden Farm.
With beautiful views of the Forth Valley and the Pentland hills, Hilly Cow Wigwams can offer all the sights of the farm, walks and cycle routes but is close enough to enjoy all the attractions of Edinburgh and the Lothian’s.
Hilly Cow Wigwams is only 10 miles from Edinburgh City Centre but is surrounded by rural countryside and there are pigs, hens, sheep and cows to visit on the farm.
10 miles: Cairns Farm Estate, West Lothian
Cairns Farm Estate is a newly developed event venue specialising in weddings with ceremony area, bespoke bar plus barbeque spot, a terrace with veranda for drinks receptions and a stunning event space with breath taking views of the Pentland Hills and the surrounding farm.
The venue, which oozes rustic glamour, is in a totally private but super-accessible position just yards from the on-site accommodation so all guests can opt to stay on site, and can be used for everything from big birthdays to corporate retreats.
12 miles: Craigie's Farm Deli & Cafe, West Lothian
Craigies Farm Shop celebrates the best of Scotland’s larder, proudly stocking mostly local and home-grown produce.
Based just a stone's throw from Edinburgh and easily accessible from the A90, the farm shop has specialist counters including an award-winning butchery and even a dedicated chocolate counter. As well as the expected farm produce, you'll find homemade chutneys and fruit jams, baking and sweet treats, Scottish cheeses and a fridge full of chef prepared goodies including oven-ready quiches, pies and nourishing meals.
Craigies Café is open daily with a menu that utilises the best of the fresh, seasonal food grown on the farm or locally sourced where possible.
16 miles: Errington Cheese Ltd, Lanarkshire
At Errington Cheese, the Cairns family has been making cheese since the early 1980's from their own flock of Lacaune ewes. In 2019, the farm invested in dairy goats and now make a selection of award winning Sheep and Goats milk cheese including Corra Linn 'Best Scottish Cheese' at the World cheese awards last year and the original Lanark Blue.
Errington sends out weekly deliveries of their cheese which can be ordered through their website and they also have a pop up shop on site.
16 miles: Wee Farm Distillery, Lanarkshire
Head over to South Lanarkshire and discover the hidden gem that is The Wee Farm Distillery's 'Steak & Still' Farm shop.
Forth Mains Farm's own Scottish gin collection is available to peruse and purchase, and you can also discover a variety of products including cheese, sauces, marinades, and native wagyu beef!
21 miles: Bowmuir Farm Holidays, Biggar
Bowmuir Farm Holidays provides unique family and dog friendly self catering accommodation in a peaceful woodland clearing near Biggar. The farm, home to the Parker family, has a host of friendly animals you can meet during your stay. It's an often used location for dog friendly events and offers secure spaces for dogs, including an agility area.
22 miles: Eastside, West Lothian
There are five stunning holiday cottages to be discovered at Eastside, all nestled into the Pentland hills just 7 miles from the historic city of Edinburgh.
With log-burning stoves and fantastic views across the rolling fields of Eastside Farm, you'll be able to stay cosy no matter the weather after a long day spent exploring the city or walking in the Pentland hills, as so many outdoor enthusiasts do throughout the year.
34 miles: The Bus Stop, East Lothian
Campfires and star-gazing from your own wood-fired hot tubs await at The Bus Stop, just 15 miles from Edinburgh.
Balfour, Elaine and Sandy of Bankrugg Farm have created unique hand-crafted accommodation made out of recycled buses and packed full of character. You can opt for luxury or a more glamping-type stay but whichever you prefer, panoramic views of the Lammermuir Hills and a break to remember are guaranteed!
37 miles: Kilduff Farm, East Lothian
Kilduff Farm, just 15 miles from Edinburgh, is a mixed arable farm near North Berwick.
The farm opened to the public for pumpkin picking at The Patch in 2018. The project was (and still is) focused on sharing rural life, where food comes from, and how it is grown with younger generations. The Patch now opens up in the autumn months to celebrate all things pumpkin but they have also created Grow at Home Pumpkin kits which are available to purchase on their website now.
39 miles: Carfrae Farm, East Lothian
Carfrae Farm, in East Lothian, is an 830-acre farm offering holiday accommodation and a variety of activity packages that are perfect for anyone seeking a day out with a difference within easy reach of Edinburgh.
From farm and walking tours to stand-up paddle boarding and mindful loch swimming, Carfrae Farm is the ideal location for adventure and outdoor fun.
40 miles: Craigmaddie Muir Roundhouse, Milngavie
Just a short drive from Glasgow's city centre, Craigmaddie Muir Roundhouse is a unique self-catering experience set up on a hillside and surrounded by silver birch woodland.
Set on a farm that is also home to a large flock of ewes and a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cows, the Roundhouse is a luxurious option for those who want to stay conveniently close to the city of Glasgow but enjoy all of the benefits of being surrounded by nature and spectacular scenery.
40 miles: The Heron Farm Shop and Kitchen, South Lanarkshire
Husband and wife team, Emma and Angus, made the decision to diversify and open a farm shop a couple of years ago and The Heron Farm Shop and Kitchen was born.
Based on the Smith family's 122 acre sheep farm on the outskirts of Strathaven, the Heron Farm Shop boasts a selection of fantastic home grown and local produce from Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and further afield, housed in a beautifully relaxing oak-framed building.
You really can do a full basket shop here with a range of fresh, chilled and frozen produce including home-reared and local meats, charcuterie, cheese and dairy, jams, chutneys, sauces, confectionery, cakes, bread goods, gifts and lots more!
The café Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, light snacks, afternoon tea, tea & coffees and cakes. There is a core seasonal menu and home-cooked specials.
47 miles: Drift, East Lothian
People come from near and far to eat, drink and bliss out at Drift, a unique coffee house with breath taking views over unspoilt miles of Firth of Forth coast and the Bass Rock. Drift is perfect for walkers, cyclists, day trippers and tourists (half a mile away from Tantallon Castle) and very popular with locals too.
Everything is freshly made and, as a farm diversification business born out of a passion for food and drink, owners Jo and Stuart McNicol love strengthening the connections between the land, sea and the table.
