River Almond, Lothian

It is approximately 28 miles (45 km) long, rising at Hirst Hill in Lanarkshire near Shotts, running through West Lothian and draining into the Firth of Forth at Cramond, Edinburgh.

[2] Running through areas that were dominated for much of the 20th century by heavy industry and shale- and coal mining, the River Almond has long been notorious for its high levels of pollution.

There is also a good array of birds to be seen around the river banks, including dippers, kingfishers and grey herons, and increasing numbers of otters are being reported.

This odour is most noticeable in the part of the river that runs through Almondell and Calderwood Country Park, where there is a major outfall from the nearby East Calder treatment plant.

The river begins its journey at Hirst Hill near Shotts Lanarkshire and runs past Seafield towards Kirkton and then through the centre of Livingston before travelling through Almondell and Calderwood Country Park where it picks up the Calder and Murieston waters.