Roslin Glen

 

Location: Roslin, Midlothian, B7003 Terrain: wooded glen, river, open terrain, village Type of walk: round trip Length: 6.5 kilometers Total ascend: 120 meters Difficulty: easy to moderate Warning: the route can be muddy in places Refreshments: 3 pubs/hotels in Roslin Other walkers: some other people, but not many Map: Landranger 66; Edinburgh Last update: July 2002 Read an explanation of this brief information. Check the conditions of use for this route description.

 

How to get there

(Large scale map)

Coming from the A701: between Penicuik and Bilston turn east onto the B7003 towards Roslin. In Roslin turn right to stay on the B7003 towards Rosewell. After descending into Roslin Glen, turn left just after the bridge over the North Esk, to reach the parking area.

Coming from the A6094: two kilometers south of Bonnyrigg, on the bypass around Rosewell, turn west onto the B7003. After descending into Roslin Glen, turn right just before the bridge over the North Esk, to reach the parking area.

Route description

(Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map)

Start by walking through the gate at the left of the parking area. Follow the path for a short distance until it bends to the right. Go straight ahead instead and turn right on the next narrow path. Cross the river at the footbridge.

Main route: Turn right immediately after the bridge, following the path along the river. This narrow path brings you eventually to the foot of Roslin Castle. Turn right at the castle wall and continue to follow the path, keeping the river at your right hand.

Shortcut: From the bridge follow the path uphill. Turn right at the next path and pass under the stone arch that supports the entrance to Roslin Castle. Turn left on the next path.

After some time the path goes up a few steps and then continues slightly uphill.

Main route: Where the path splits in two, take the right branch that leads down to the river. When the gorge narrows this path becomes tricky and if the water level is high you may have trouble keeping your feet dry. Once you have passed the difficult part ignore a path to the left.

Easier: Where the path splits in two, take the left branch, going uphill. Ignore one path to the left, turn right after you have passed under a canopy of some old conifer trees, ignore another path to the left and then turn right onto a path that slopes down to the river. Ignore yet another path to the left and continue to zigzag down. Turn left on the next path, which runs parallel to the river.

Just before the two routes merge you can see the entrance to Wallace's cave, high up in the rock-face across the glen.

Ignore a small path to the right. After some time you will reach a wire fence which can be crossed by means of a stile. Ignore the path that goes off to the left. To the right you can see Hawthornden Castle on the other side of the river. Cross a second and some time later a third wire fence. Cross a fourth fence where the river makes a U-turn and turn left, following the path along the fence. Soon the path becomes better defined and starts to climb up the ridge that separates Roslin Glen from Bilston Glen. Following this path you will eventually encounter a gate. Turn left on the unpaved road behind the gate. This road will lead you to Roslin, passing through the grounds of Dryden Farm. The farm is part of the Roslin Institute, probably best known as the home of Dolly, the first cloned sheep. Once past the farm buildings there is a small monument to the right of the road, remembering the Battle of Roslin in 1303. In Roslin continue to follow the road until you reach a crossroads in the center of the village. Turn left, following the signs to Roslin Glen and to Roslin Chapel. After the visitor car park turn right and then turn left to pass between the two parts of the cemetery. Follow this path until it reaches the entrance to Roslin Castle. Take the steps that lead down to the right. Ignore a path to the left, cross the footbridge and follow the path that goes to the right, parallel to the river. Before this small path disappears between the trees, turn left and pick up the path that leads you back to the gate where you started your walk.

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