Polmont
Polmont is a village five miles east of Falkirk in Stirlingshire in central Scotland. It's mainly a commuter village for Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling. Just north is the busy port and petrochemical town of Grangemouth, also described on this page.
Understand
Polmont has a population of 5,300 (2009). The economy of Polmont is based mainly upon relatively small scale private enterprise, such as pubs, cafes, hotels, take-aways and convenience stores. The majority of these are based in or around Polmont shopping centre, the focal point of local custom. Agriculture is also a central industry, with arable land consuming a sizeable proportion of the area. Polmont is home to the controversial Avondale Landfill, a large employer on the east of the village. Due to the proximity to Grangemouth, some of the residents work at the Grangemouth refineries and port.
Grangemouth has a population of 17,400 (2011). Grangemouth grew as a town mainly because of its geographical location. It became a bustling port ad trade flowed through the town with the construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal in the 18th century. Now, the economy of Grangemouth is focused primarily on the large petrochemical industry of the area which includes the oil refinery, one of the largest of its kind in Europe
History
The name Polmont is derived from the Scottish Gaelic term Poll-Mhonadh, meaning "Pool of the Hill".
Old Polmont was situated on a raised beach overlooking the Firth of Forth and the Ochils. There were two Roman temporary marching camps, one on either side of what is now Grangemouth Golf Course: on the western side was Little Kerse, and on the eastern side was Polmont Hill. Nearby, at Mumrills, was the largest fort on the Roman Antonine Wall. This fort, embankment and water source has been marked out and can be visited in Polmont Woods, close to the M9 motorway.
The newer, modern Polmont has developed mainly from the 1970s with the Gilston Estate, and further up towards the railway and station, now adjoining the village of Brightons.
During World War II, The now demolished St Margaret's School for Girls was used by the Polish forces as a signals training school and soldiers from various Polish units were assigned to learn the trade of signalling.
Get in
By plane
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is 17 miles east. Take the tram to Haymarket then train towards Glasgow for Polmont.
Glasgow Airport (GLA) is 36 miles west, far side of that city. Take the airport bus to Buchanan station then the train from Queen Street towards Edinburgh for Polmont.
By train
Trains from Edinburgh run every 15 min via Haymarket and Linlithgow to Polmont (25 min) and continue west via Falkirk High or Grahamston to Glasgow Queen Street (another 35 min). Trains from Edinburgh to Stirling and Dunblane don't stop in Polmont, change at Falkirk Grahamston.
1 Polmont station is half a mile south of the village centre.
By car
Polmont is half-way between Glasgow and Edinburgh, spanning the M9 motorway. The exit is junction 4.
By bus
There are regular bus services to Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh, all provided by First Group.
By boat
Nearby Grangemouth Docks (4 miles north) on the Forth River where light cargo ships and coastal tankers call. No ferry or passenger-only services are available.
The Union Canals pass through Polmont and are open to small boat traffic.
Get around
See
- 1 Antonine Wall. Constructed 140-142 AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Antonius Pius, this wall spans Scotland at its narrowest point between the Firth of Forth in the east and the River Clyde in the west. Although intended to rival the work of his predecessor Hadrian, this wall was far less elaborate, built of turf fronted by a ditch 12 feet deep. The wall was 10 feet high and 14 feet wide and dotted with 29 small military forts linked by a road.As a defensive barrier it didn't last long: in 181 AD the northern tribes poured over the wall and pushed the Romans back to Hadrian's Wall. The Romans finally abandoned the territory between the two walls in 196 AD. The wall is 37 miles long but mostly covered by modern developments, the best of it being through Polmont Woods and Church.
Do
- 1 Polmont Golf course, Manualrigg, Maddiston, Falkirk. Fk2 0ls (about 3 miles south of Polmont).
- 2 Grangemouth Golf Course (about 1 mile northeast of Polmont). 6400-yard 18-hole parkland course opened in 1974. Municipal course with a clubhouse which is open to visitors. round £30.
- 3 Polmonthill Ski Centre, Avondale Rd, Polmont FK2 0YA. M-F 13:00-21:30, Sa 10:00-15:00. 100 m long artificial ski slope, so it's a novice site. Adult £8 / hr.
- 4 Millhall Reservoir is open Mar-Oct for fly-fishing.
- Polmont Woods and the canal are agreeable places to have a walk.
Buy
The main shopping area is around Polmont Cross, with a supermarket, coffee shop, newsagent, butchers, laundry, fast-food takeaway and pub.
Eat
There are numerous take-away food stores. The takeaway prices are fairly cheap, and a few of the takeaway shops have the facility to order online, and have online menus.
- 1 Black Bull, Main Street, Polmont FK2 0PX. Su-Th 12:00-00:00, F Sa 12:00-01:00. Pub with a selection of food, has rooms. Quiz night Tues, karaoke alt Sats. Mains £10.
- Land & Sea Fish and Chip Shop, 20 Main Street, Polmont FK2 0PX (next to Black Bull Inn). Daily 16:30-22:30. Scotland's Fish & Chip Shop of the Year in 2005/2006, has vegan and GF options. Haddock supper £7.50.
Drink
- Numerous pleasant bars.
Sleep
- 1 Inchyra Grange, Grange Rd, FK2 0YB (M9 jcn 5), ☏ +44 1324 711911. Renovated mansion and four-star hotel, handy for motorway & Grangemouth. B&B double £120.
- 2 Leapark Hotel, 130 Bo'Ness Road, Grangemouth FK3 9BX. 50-room hotel. from £35.
- 3 Premier Inn Falkirk East, Beancross Road, Polmont, FK2 0YS. from £32.
Go next
- Falkirk - nearby town which was the site of two historic battles, and has the shortest street in the UK.
- Linlithgow - attractive town and castle on the way to Edinburgh.
- Bo'ness - Small town in the district, home to the Scottish Railway Preservation society, and the Bo'ness and Kinneil Steam Railway.
| Routes through Polmont |
| Perth ← Stirling ← | NW  SE |
→ Linlithgow → Edinburgh |