Musselburgh

Known as the “Honest Toun”, Musselburgh in East Lothian is situated at the mouth of the River Esk on the shore of the Firth of Forth. It dates back to Roman times when a fortress was built on Inveresk Hill. 

Records of the Riding of the Marches date back to 1682 and the event occurs every 21 years. The Honest Toun Festival has been held in every year since 1936 apart from when the Riding of the Marches was taking place.

Musselburgh Racecourse is the oldest in Scotland dating back to 1816. The racecourse also contains the historic 9-hole Musselburgh Links golf course, which hosted the British Open six times between 1874 and 1889.

Musselburgh is located about two miles from Newcraighall Station on the Borders Railway and has its own railway station that is situated on the East Coast mainline.

Dalkeith

Dalkeith is the main administrative centre of Midlothian. It is situated on the confluence of the rivers North and South Esk, and its ancient origins are shown in place names: Dol coet – meadow of the wood), and Isca – water.

More recently Dalkeith was a main market town, and it has some excellent examples of historical architecture, such as St Nicholas Buccleuch church (1406), and the Corn Exchange (1853).

Nearby Dalkeith Country Park has undergone a £3.5 million re-development transforming it into a key visitor attraction and a hub for families, activities and events.

Close by is Newbattle Abbey, founded in 1140, and the site where the Declaration of Arbroath was drafted in 1320.

Danderhall

Danderhall is a former mining community. One of the first railways between the collieries of Midlothian and Edinburgh ran through the small hamlet of Edmonstone here. This was named the ‘Innocent Railway’ on the basis that the line never suffered any fatalities.

The last deep coal mine at nearby Monktonhall colliery closed in 1998.

Nearby Shawfair has a growing business park and work has commenced on a £200 million project which will see a new community of 4,000 houses with ancillary facilities; the largest new urban development programme in Scotland.

Newtongrange

Newtongrange is a former mining village and the largest surviving colliery settlement in Scotland. It became Scotland’s largest mining village in the 1890s with the sinking of the Lady Victoria Colliery.

Newtongrange is now the home of the National Mining Museum of Scotland, a five-star visitor attraction.

Bonnyrigg and Lasswade

Bonnyrigg, one of Midlothian’s largest towns, is close to Dalhousie Castle Hotel and several well-kept golf courses.

Lasswade is in an attractive wooded glen through which the River North Esk runs. Sir Walter Scott lived in Lasswade College between 1798 and 1804.

The outskirts of Lasswade hosts Dobbies Head Office. Recently undergone a major development to offer a new retail village, it is the largest of their Scottish stores. This area is a hub of activity offering family friendly restaurants and visitor attractions; Edinburgh Butterfly World and Edinburgh Combat Centre. Nearby is Melville Castle Hotel, a quality small resort facility.

Loanhead

Bilston Glen was formerly the site of Bilston Glen Colliery. This has been transformed into the thriving Bilston Glen Industrial Estate. Home to amongst others Stewart Brewing with their unique new craft beer kitchen visitor attraction.

On the outskirts of Loanhead lies Straiton Retail Park. A modern and expanding shopping development, home to a number of big name stores such as IKEA, Costco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

Roslin

Roslin is home to the world famous Rosslyn Chapel built by the first Earl of Caithness, William Sinclair, in the mid-15^th century. It is now a five-star visitor attraction achieving worldwide fame as one of the settings for the novel and film The Da Vinci Code. 

Roslin is also a base for world-class science and technology research and commerce. Dolly the Sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal, was bred by scientists from the Roslin Institute in 1996.

Gorebridge

Gorebridge is surrounded by attractive and accessible countryside. Nearby Vogrie Country Park has many miles of paths. Vogrie House was gifted to the community by the Dewar family of whisky distilling fame. 

There are historic and natural sites nearby, including Arniston House, Borthwick Castle, Currie Wood, Crichton Castle, Crichton Collegiate Church, and Gore Glen.

Pathhead

Pathhead lies on the historic route south on the modern A68. Thomas Telford’s impressive five span viaduct over the River Tyne leads into the village from the north.

Pathhead is an attractive village, home to a thriving folk music community. The remains of Soutra Aisle, a medieval hospital founded in 1164, are nearby. On the outskirts is the impressive Oxenfoord Castle, a unique and exclusive use venue.

Penicuik

Penicuik, the largest town in Midlothian, sits below the majestic Pentland Hills Regional Park. Penicuik has recently become the first area in Midlothian to host a Business Improvement District within the town centre. 

The town’s past embodies achievements of national and international significance. For example, the papermaking industry was built on technology developed in Penicuik mills from the early 18th century. 

Penicuik House, the former mansion home of the Clerk family, sits within an attractive designed landscape. The shell of the house is being renovated as a training project in traditional crafts and on completion, the building and surrounding area will be made available for the public to enjoy. 

On the outskirts of the town sits the Pentlands Science Park. It is one of the major employment centres for Midlothian and a world leading location for animal bioscience and life sciences.

Selkirk

Founded in the 6th century, Selkirk is an architecturally impressive town that sits above the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys.

The town has a rich history: William Wallace was proclaimed Overlord of Scotland there, and Sir Walter Scott served as its sheriff for 33 years.

The Selkirk Common Riding is one of the Scottish Borders’ oldest festivals. It dates from 1513 when only one of 80 townsmen who fought in the battle of Flodden came home, carrying a blood-stained English flag.

The town is also famous for the Selkirk Bannock, a fruit cake.

Galashiels

Galashiels, the largest town in the Scottish Borders, lies in the narrow valley of Gala Water, close to where it joins the River Tweed.

The town dates back to at least 1124 when it was referred to in a charter during King David I’s reign. Its heritage is celebrated in June each year with the Braw Lads’ Gathering.

Galashiels grew as a result of the expansion of the textiles industry in the 19^th century. Despite that industry’s decline, the town remains an important commercial centre, hosting branches of several well-known national retailers. It is also home to the Scottish Borders Campus, which includes Borders College and the Heriot-Watt University School of Textiles and Design.

Melrose

The market town of Melrose is at the foot of the Eildon Hills, an area once occupied by the Romans and named Trimontium (“Place of the Three Hills”).

The town’s famous abbey was founded in 1136 and contains a casket believed to hold the heart of Robert the Bruce.

Melrose is also the birthplace of Rugby Sevens, which were first played in 1883.

Today, the town is a major tourist magnet with an attractive mix of shops and boutiques selling local goods and produce. Sir Walter Scott’s home, Abbotsford House, is three miles to the west of the town on the banks of the River Tweed.

Lauder

Lauder is a market town on the Leader Water to the west of the Lammermuir Hills close to the Southern Upland Way.

The town contains Soutra Aisle, the remains of the House of the Holy Trinity, which was an important establishment during the Middle Ages.

Lauder celebrates its heritage every August with its Common Riding festival.

Thirlestane Castle, which has been home to the Maitland family since the 16^th century and is one of the seven “Great Houses in Scotland”, lies close to the town.

St. Boswells

The village of St. Boswells lies four miles to the south of Melrose.

Named after Boisil, a monk famous for healing, the village is close to the remains of Dryburgh Abbey.

St. Boswells is an excellent base for exploring St. Cuthbert’s Way, a long distance walk connecting Melrose Abbey with Lindisfarne in Northumberland.

Despite its size, the village has several highly regarded independent retailers, including an award-winning butcher’s and a well-known café-bookshop. 

Scott’s View, the author’s favourite vista of the Eildon Hills, lies to the north of the village.