Harthill, Scotland

Harthill is a rural village in North Lanarkshire in Scotland, on the border with the neighbouring county of West Lothian about half-way between Glasgow (21mi) and Edinburgh (25mi) It lies on the River Almond about 2.5mi west of the small town of Whitburn. The closest major towns are Bathgate (6mi) and Livingston (10mi). Major towns within North Lanarkshire, such as Wishaw, Airdrie, Motherwell, Coatbridge and Bellshill are all around 10to to the west. It is sometimes considered an isogloss, as it is around here that there is a distinct change from West Central Scots to East Central Scots. The M8 motorway bypasses the village and has a service station named after it.OverviewHarthill grew up as a result of the coal mining industries of North Lanarkshire, and some of the original old miners' homes remain. Originally part of Linlithgowshire, it was eventually split between the ancient counties of West Lothian and Lanarkshire. The village of Greenrigg is adjacent to Harthill on the east side and lies in West Lothian. Remaining miners' homes, otherwise known as 'miners rows', are also in Greenrigg, and the occupants worked in nearby Greenrigg and Polkemmet Collieries, which were in West Lothian.