[2] A right-of-way through the foothills of the Pentland Hills follows an important pre-historic routeway linking the Upper Clyde valley with the estuary of the River Forth.

The importance of droving and the markets reached their zenith in the early years of the nineteenth century, when upwards of 30,000 sheep would be sold annually, including the famous Linton breed.

The Manor House at the top of the main street dates from 1578, and is said to have been built on Saturday nights by masons who were engaged by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, Regent of Scotland, to work on his castle of Drochil, seven miles distant down the Lyne valley.

As a part of the British Isles, West Linton experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters.

Contributing factors include its location in a valley and the relatively elevated position of the village centre at approximately 230m above sea level.

In 1729, there was objection on the part of a section of the congregation to the enforced settlement of the minister, and, on the day of ordination in 1731, "riotous scenes" were reported.

Soldiers were sent to restore order, and as they forded the river at the Lower Green, they were pelted with stones by the indignant villagers, several of whom were taken to Edinburgh to answer for their disorderly conduct.

In 1780, plans were approved for a new church to be built on the old manse glebe, the minister to be compensated for the loss of his land by the addition of twelve shillings to his stipend.

In the succeeding years, the wood carvings executed by two local ladies, Miss Jane Fergusson of Spitalhaugh, and Mrs Wodropp of Garvald, were added to the interior walls and gallery.

[8] The village was formerly served by Broomlee railway station on the Leadburn to Dolphinton branch line, designed by Thomas Bouch (who was also responsible for the ill-fated Tay Bridge).

At the southern end of Main Street near St. Andrew's Parish Church lies the old toll house, built in the early nineteenth century at the entrance to the village on the Blyth Bridge to Carlops turnpike road.

Although West Linton has never played a significant part in the history of the country, several eminent men have taken up residence in the area.

Early in the nineteenth century, John Hay Forbes (1776–1854) was raised to the bench with the title of Lord Medwyn, the name of the estate he had earlier purchased.

[10] Robert Sanderson (1836-1902), the "Laureate of Lynedale", wrote poems and sketches celebrating the Lyne valley, and his handsome tomb erected by his friends may be seen in the graveyard.

[11] George Meikle Kemp (1795–1844), the architect of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, lived for a time near Dolphinton and came to school in the village.

George Johnston, owner of the first motorcar in Scotland and founder of the Arrol-Johnston automotive works was born in West Linton in 1855.

However, to mark the events, silhouette statues were erected around the village during the week, raising money for the Tiny Changes mental health charity in memory of musician Scott Hutchison, whose family live in the area.