West Calder is a town and parish situated in West Lothian, Scotland. Located in the extreme west of Edinburgh it stands 550 feet above sea level on the right bank of the West Calder Burn.
The once quiet rural parish of West Calder underwent dramatic change in the 19th and 20th centuries as the area became an important centre for the oil-shale economy. The village expanded and prospered acquiring the conveniences and qualities of a fully-fledged Victorian town. The West Calder Co-operative Society and well-known landmark Thistle Tower are just two of the impressive buildings built by local benefactor John Thomson, proprietor of the town's famous bakery and known as 'Pie Jock.' Much of the housing dates from the mid 20th century, however, a public library, a fine example of the Art Noveau style was built in 1903. The parish church built in 1643 was abandoned in 1880 and still remains roofless today.
The West Calder Aero Modeller's Club was set up in December 1998.The aim was to provide good facilities, good training as well as good communications, to provide the opportunity for people to get started. The site has been transformed from a basic peat bog into the excellent site that can be seen today. There is a large tarmac as well as grass runway, pits area, access path, starter box and pilots stance, together with hard off-road parking for at least 40 cars. The club continues to attract both highly skilled flyers as well as that important commodity, the beginner. Flying times are from 10am until dusk.
Calderwood, one of a number of country parks near to West Calder, was once a private estate, at one time having belonged to the Barons of Torphichen. It is an undeveloped area that has been deliberately left to its own devices in an attempt to encourage wildlife. Rough tracks lead along the top of steep valleys thickly wooded with wild cherry, oak and hazel, and across the large open area between them, a mass of bluebells and young bracken flourish during the Spring. In the past, Calderwood was greatly undermined for oil bearing shale, a very important local industry, remnants of which can still be seen to the south of Calderwood, the Oakbank shale bings.
Harburn Golf Club in West Calder is a challenging 18 hole parkland course with a good variety of beech, oak and pine trees. The club was founded in 1932 and offers a stiff challenge to golfers of all levels. If you are planning to play golf in West Lothian, Harburn Golf Club is an absolute must to play. The pro shop is stocked with a comprehensive range of clothing and equipment with friendly staff on hand for advice. The club is located near the village of West Calder, around 14 miles west of Edinburgh, and a couple of miles south of the village on the B7008. It is an ideal rural retreat and hard to believe it is just a short distance from the M8 motorway.