Place to Live
The Borders Railway runs through some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland. The area itself offers a perfect blend of city life and rural retreats, superb schools, colleges and universities, affordable living, and great leisure opportunities. There could be no better place to live, work or learn.
Edinburgh
Recognised as Scotland’s capital since the 15th century, Edinburgh is the home of the Scottish Parliament and the seat of the monarchy in Scotland. The city’s medieval old town and Georgian new town have joint UNESCO World Heritage status. In addition, the Forth Rail Bridge was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2016.
After London, Edinburgh is the UK’s second largest financial centre and second largest tourist destination. The city has a multiple award-winning reputation as one of the most attractive destinations in the world, with an ideal mix of shopping, culture, music, heritage and leisure facilities.
The city’s medieval old town and Georgian new town have joint UNESCO World Heritage status
Edinburgh is built on seven hills, which include Castle Rock and Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano. There is evidence of human habitation dating back to the Bronze Age.
Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city, is home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
Edinburgh houses many national institutions, including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and the Scottish National Gallery.
Every year in August, the city stages the world’s largest arts festival, The Edinburgh Fringe, and is associated with pioneers in literature, medicine, philosophy, law, science, and engineering. Some of the most notable are Robert Louis Stevenson, David Hume, Adam Smith, Peter Higgs, Ian Rankin and JK Rowling.
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-15th 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 19th 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 16th 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.
Dream Home
The Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre is the best place to start when searching for a new home along the route of the railway. Covering the capital, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, you can find properties to rent and buy, search by school catchment and get advice on making your move as smooth as possible.
Ideal Course
There are four universities and three colleges along the route, offering an enormous range of courses and study options, from astrophysics to zoology and from adult education to post-doctoral research. Edinburgh is home to the universities of Heriot Watt, Edinburgh (with a veterinary school near Roslin, Midlothian) and Edinburgh Napier and Queen Margaret.
Edinburgh College has three campuses in the city and one in Dalkeith, Midlothian. Borders College has three campuses in the area, with the main site being in Galashiels. Finally, Newbattle Abbey College, also in Dalkeith, offers adult education.
Local Schools
There is a wide range of excellent schools all along the route in Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Plus, there are more than 20 independent schools located in or near the area.
Commuting
Find out about the timetable and commuter tickets from ScotRail. There is also a park and ride facility at Eskbank.
Sport
Edinburgh is home to two professional football clubs: Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian. Scotland’s national rugby union side and the professional club, Edinburgh Rugby, both play at the BT Murrayfield Stadium.
Other sports played in the city include golf, cricket, athletics, ice hockey, speedway, swimming, and American Football. The dry ski facility at Hillend is on the city’s southern boundary.
Outdoor pursuits are also plentiful with an array of parks and gardens in the city. There are great walking and cycling routes; from Holyrood Park, the Pentland Hills and the Meadows, which is close to the city centre. Edinburgh is the home to almost half of Scotland’s 65 Green Flag parks.
The countryside of Midlothian has woodlands, historical attractions and a variety of wildlife.
There is an equally diverse range of leisure opportunities in the county including golf, walking, cycling, horse riding, skiing, fishing and cultural events. Midlothian hosts Midlothian Snowsports Centre, a unique attraction and magnet for snowsports enthusiasts. It boasts the longest downhill slope in UK
Sports and outdoor activities enthusiasts are well catered for in the Scottish Borders with everything from golf to diving and horse riding on offer.
The River Tweed and other provide some of the world’s best fishing. There is a large choice of routes for mountain bikers and recreational cyclists.
Rugby Sevens was first played in Melrose in 1883 and the town’s annual event attracts international fans and teams.
Culture
Edinburgh is the world's festival capital, with 12 international festivals and a host of Edinburgh is the world's festival capital, with 11 international festivals and a host of other major events throughout the year. As well as the Edinburgh Fringe, they include the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, International Film Festival, International Book Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh's Christmas and Hogmanay.
The city contains many theatres and production companies. Concert venues include the Usher Hall, Scotland’s only 5 star VisitScotland concert hall, the Festival Theatre, the Assembly Rooms, and the Queen’s Hall and theatre venues include the Royal Lyceum Theatre, the King’s Theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse, and the Traverse Theatre.
Edinburgh is home to many museums and art galleries, including the National Museum of Scotland, Scotland’s five national galleries of art, the National War Museum, Museum of Childhood, Museum of Edinburgh, City Art Centre and Surgeon’s Hall Museum. The city also has many smaller private galleries.
It also has the largest monument dedicated to an author, The Scott Monument, opened in 1844 to commemorate Sir Walter Scott.
Edinburgh also boasts 5 Michelin-starred restaurants, more than any other UK city outside London.
Midlothian has a strong heritage featuring churches, castles and industry. Attractions such as Rosslyn Chapel, Crichton Collegiate Church and the National Mining Museum of Scotland are a window to the past.
Cultural celebrations include arts festivals in Penicuik and Pathhead. Each September the Midfest Festival of Arts and Culture involves the wider community offering a rock concert and extensive family fun day. Other festivals include the Megacycle in May, the walking festival in August, the Dalkeith Agricultural Show in July, the highly popular Midlothian Science Festival in October, and Festival of Music in November.
Midlothian’s food culture is celebrated each year in June with the Midlothian Food and Drink Awards showcasing its best restaurants, cafes, bars and food and drink producers.
A recent tourism audit was commissioned on behalf of Midlothian and Scottish Borders Council which highlights the tourism offering in both areas.
Most Scottish Borders towns host local opera companies and theatre groups. There are regular art exhibitions, book festivals, craft fairs, and music events attracting artists, authors, musicians and audiences from all over the country.
One of the area’s most distinctive cultural features is the annual celebration of Common Riding festivals. Each town commemorates the historic practice of riding the town‘s boundaries to preserve burgh rights and prevent encroachment by neighbouring landlords.
Visitor Attractions
Half of Scotland's top visitor attractions are in the Edinburgh city region, including the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, Scottish National Gallery and Edinburgh Zoo, home to the UK’s only Giant Pandas.
Tourist attractions in East Lothian include the Scottish Seabird Centre, Tantallon and Dirleton castles, and the National Museum of Flight. The area has several world-class golf courses.
Midlothian has the popular tourist attractions the redeveloped Dalkeith Country Park, Vogrie Country Park and Rosslyn Chapel.
Tourist attractions in the Scottish Borders include Tweed Valley Forest Park, Heart of Hawick and Teviot Water Gardens.