GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Roslin Glen Country Park

2.17 miles (3.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a super cycle or walk along the River North Esk in this country park in Midlothian. You will pass along the Penicuik to Musselburgh cycle/walkway which makes use of disused railway lines. It's ideal for a peaceful off road cycle or walk, taking you through wooded glens with views of the rushing River North Esk as you go. You will also pass a number of interesting historical sites including Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin Castle, Wallace's Cave and Hawthornden Castle.
The park is excellent for wildlife with otters, kingfishers and dippers around the river. Look out for buzzards, woodpeckers and badgers in the gorge woodland area. Owls, field voles and butterflies can be seen in the pretty meadows and grasslands.
Roslin Glen is located about 7 miles south of Edinburgh city centre, near Pencuik.
On the nothern side of the park you can visit Rosslyn Chapel. There's some stunning architecture at the 15th century site which includes some pleasant trails through a wooded glen to the ruins of Roslin Castle. The chapel became famous when it was featured in Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code.

Postcode

EH25 9PY - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Roslin Glen Country Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Roslin Glen Country Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

You could follow the Penicuik to Musselburgh Cycle Path to the historic coastal town of Musselburgh. There's nice trails here along the beach and the River Esk where it joins with the Firth of Forth.
To the east is the village of Gorebridge where you can pick up the Gorebridge Circular Walk and explore the area around the historic village. Highlights include the Gore Glen Woodland Park with walks along Gore Water and views of the Pentland Hills.
For more walks in the area see the Edinburgh Walks page.

Photos

Roslin Glen - geograph.org.uk - 216778

Rushing river in the glen

Old Gunpowder Mill in Roslin Glen - geograph.org.uk - 916976

Old Gunpowder Mill in Roslin Glen. This mill produced gunpowder from 1801 or 1803 to 1954. Despite stringent safety measures there were numerous accidents but the mill was a major source of employment in the area, especially in wartime for women.

Weir on the North Esk river in Roslin Glen - geograph.org.uk - 916959

Weir on the North Esk river in Roslin Glen. This photograph of a weir on the North Esk is taken from the footbridge just above the site of an old gunpowder mill.

Roslin Glen - geograph.org.uk - 1498238

Reserve entrance and sign. Access path to part of the glen just off a section of the B7003 Roslin to Rosewell road.

Gateposts, Roslin Glen Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 1304226

This was originally the gate to the gunpowder factory (1804 - 1954) which occupied the glen as far as the weir. Manufacturing was split between a number of buildings kept separate for safety. The path through the park passes several sites of former buildings.

Roslin Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1498159

Roslin Castle. Only the upper most parts of the castle are visible above the dense woodland of Roslin Glen.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Roslin Glen Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Roslin Glen Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)