Breich

Settlement in Midlothian

Scotland

Breich

A706 passes under high tension cables Credit: Stuart Logan

Breich is a small village located in the council area of Midlothian, Scotland. Situated approximately 25 miles southwest of Edinburgh, it falls within the historic county of West Lothian. Breich is surrounded by picturesque countryside, offering residents and visitors a peaceful and rural setting.

The village has a relatively small population and is primarily residential, with a few local amenities to cater to the needs of the community. These include a local shop, a post office, and a pub, providing essential services to the residents.

Breich is well-connected in terms of transportation, with a railway station that provides easy access to surrounding areas. This is particularly convenient for commuters who work in nearby towns or cities. The village is also well-served by road links, with the A71 passing through, connecting Breich to Edinburgh and other major towns in the region.

The surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration. The Pentland Hills Regional Park is within reach, providing beautiful walking and cycling trails, and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, the nearby Almondell and Calderwood Country Park offers further recreational opportunities, with its woodlands, riverside walks, and wildlife.

Overall, Breich is a peaceful and rural village that offers a tranquil and picturesque setting for its residents. With its convenient transportation links and beautiful surrounding countryside, it provides a quiet retreat while still being within reach of larger towns and cities.

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Breich Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.828749/-3.656732 or Grid Reference NS9660. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

A706 passes under high tension cables

Stuart Logan

Top Blinky car park, Woodmuir Forest

John Lord

Top Blinky car park, Woodmuir Forest

John Lord

Clear-fell, Woodmuir Forest

John Lord

The A704 heading through Woodmuir Plantation

Between West Calder and Forth.

James Denham

Woodmuir Plantation

The current generation of trees have come on a bit since 2008. NS9659 : Clear fell at Woodmuir Plantation

Richard Webb

Forestry Road Barrier

Near the start of a forest track that leads to Hendry's Corse plus plenty of parking off the A704.

Rude Health

Rashiehill Muir

Looking south along the A706, with some of the Tormywheel Wind Farm turbines.

M J Richardson

Rashiehill Muir and Forestry

Rough pasture by the A706.

M J Richardson

Blood Red Water of Woodmuir Burn

Not being much of an expert on anything have no idea why the water is so red, but the colour remains pretty much the same for a good few hundred yards further upstream. Nor do I read that much but made me think of historical novels in which they say the river ran red with blood due to the battle being so deadly!

Ian Dodds

Open Ground below Power Lines in Woodmuir Forest

Always good to see big electricity lines crossing forests as at least you get some idea what the area would have looked like before the trees got planted - in this case neverending mossy boggy ground... These lines are 400,000 volts - have noticed now having walked under a few that they aren't all the same voltage as I had always assumed.

Ian Dodds

Intriguing Stone Post at Edge of Burn Row Ruins

Probably a gate post, but odd in that it has deep holes on two sides. At the NorthEastern edge of the ruin. Not much left of what, from old maps, looks like a row of four terraced houses. On the large scale 1893 surveyed map a small square is attached to the row at this end, probably for livestock. Looks like stopped being occupied from around 1900.

Ian Dodds

Quarry Pond near Woodmuir Burn

Steep-sided pond now surrounded by dense conifer forest, but originally the site of extensive quarry workings. The path that leads here through the woods was originally a railway line serving the quarry. Strictly speaking the section of the burn close by is actually called Paddy's River - an unusual name for a small burn - which is meant to flow into the original Woodmuir Burn, shortly after it (Woodmuir Burn) issues from the ground, having been diverted underground due to the quarry works, but there was no on the ground evidence of this to back up the map.

Ian Dodds

Unmapped Burn in Woodmuir Plantation

This small burn doesn't appear on even the largest scale mapping and flows into the pond just North of the picture location , or, more correctly, the marshland surrounding the pond. Before the trees were planted this area was all marshland dotted with old mine workings, as the blood red burn water shows - have only ever come across water this colour when mines or quarries were once nearby. A path runs roughly NorthEast from the track that stops a short distance West of the pond to the dead-end bigger track to the NorthEast of it, passing right by the round sheepfold marked on the map. This path crosses the burn at the picture location.

Ian Dodds

Pond just South of A704 in Woodmuir Plantation

This pond is relatively new as doesn't appear on the 1:2500 1950s OS map. There were old mines in the area and the pond is probably on the site of an old, though far smaller, coal pit. Without looking at more recent maps it is impossible to know if it is here as the result of drainage works when the forest was first planted, or as a result of very recent mining activity. There was an open-cast coal mine operating around here from 2012-2016, and part of the deal for them being allowed to mine was a requirement that they replanted fast growing Sitka Spruce once the mining finished.

Ian Dodds