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Midlothian
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Explore Midlothian south of Edinburgh for Rosslyn Chapel, mining heritage, country parks, market towns and walks across the Pentland Hills.

Immediately south of Edinburgh, Midlothian combines a working landscape of market towns, former mining communities, farmland and wooded river valleys with the open slopes of the Pentland Hills. It is close enough to Scotland’s capital for an easy day trip, yet sufficiently rural in its southern districts to offer a different pace and a clearer sense of the landscape beyond the city. The region is compact by Scottish standards, but its character changes noticeably between the urban fringe, the central Esk valley and the hill country around Penicuik and the Pentlands.
Read more about Midlothian
Dalkeith is Midlothian’s principal historic town and a useful base for exploring the surrounding country. Its setting near the confluence of the North and South Esk rivers reflects the importance of water, woodland and estate agriculture in the area’s development. Nearby Dalkeith Country Park provides extensive paths and open space, while Newbattle Abbey and its grounds preserve the memory of a medieval Cistercian foundation and the later Marquesses of Lothian. To the south, Penicuik and the villages along the Esk offer a mixture of industrial heritage, wooded walks and access to the hills.
Midlothian’s best-known historic building is Rosslyn Chapel near Roslin, a richly carved fifteenth-century collegiate chapel whose symbolism and craftsmanship have attracted visitors for centuries. The chapel stands in a wooded valley close to Rosslyn Castle and the River North Esk, making the surrounding landscape an important part of the visit. Elsewhere, Crichton Castle provides a more austere reminder of aristocratic ambition and political change, while rural churches, estate walls and traditional villages reveal the region’s long agricultural history.
Coal shaped modern Midlothian as profoundly as agriculture shaped its earlier economy. Pits, railways and miners’ rows once defined communities such as Newtongrange, Loanhead and Gorebridge; the National Mining Museum Scotland at Lady Victoria Colliery preserves that industrial story. The former mining districts now sit alongside community woodland, new housing and restored public spaces, creating a region where industrial memory remains visible without defining every aspect of contemporary life.
Outdoor visitors can walk, cycle and ride through the Pentland Hills Regional Park, explore the reservoirs and heathered ridges, or follow gentler paths through parks and river valleys. Food is usually informal and locally oriented, with village pubs, cafés, farm shops and restaurants drawing on Scottish produce. Midlothian works particularly well for travellers who want to pair Edinburgh’s cultural riches with historic chapels, mining history, country estates and accessible countryside without committing to a long journey into the Highlands.

When is the best time to visit Midlothian?

Best: June–August · 17–19°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January656
February648
March852
April1146
May1450
June (best)1756
July (best)1956
August (best)1966
September1657
October1365
November860
December661

Getting to and around Midlothian

How to get there

Midlothian is readily reached from Edinburgh, which lies immediately to the north. Edinburgh Airport is outside the region but is the principal international gateway; from the airport, travellers can continue by tram or bus into Edinburgh and then use rail, bus or taxi connections southwards. The Borders Railway links Edinburgh with Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge, while A-roads including the A7 and A68 provide direct approaches by car and bus. Visitors driving from the south commonly approach via the A68 or A7, depending on their destination.

Transportation

The Borders Railway is useful for central Midlothian, with stations serving the Dalkeith, Newtongrange and Gorebridge areas, although not every attraction is close to a station. Local buses connect Edinburgh with towns such as Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Loanhead and Penicuik, but services and journey times vary in rural districts. A car gives easier access to Rosslyn Chapel, Crichton Castle, country parks and hill starting points. Walking and cycling work well on selected paths and quiet lanes, while taxis are practical for short transfers where public transport is limited.

Top city travel guides in Midlothian

The cities of Midlothian, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Best attractions in Midlothian

Midlothian’s attractions range from elaborate historic buildings to reclaimed industrial landscapes and open hill country. Rosslyn Chapel near Roslin is the region’s leading architectural attraction, admired for its fifteenth-century carving and its setting above the wooded valley of the North Esk. Newbattle Abbey and Dalkeith Country Park provide different perspectives on estate history, formal landscapes and riverside walking. Crichton Castle, standing amid farmland south of Pathhead, offers a quieter encounter with late-medieval and Renaissance architecture. The National Mining Museum Scotland at Newtongrange occupies the former Lady Victoria Colliery and gives valuable context to the communities that grew around coal. For outdoor activity, the Pentland Hills Regional Park extends across the western part of the region, with reservoirs, ridges, paths and broad views towards Edinburgh and the surrounding Lowlands. Vogrie Country Park adds gentler woodland and riverside routes, while smaller museums, village churches and former mining settlements reward slower exploration. The attraction landscape is strongest when these elements are combined: a chapel or castle, an industrial site and a walk through the valleys or hills.

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Best landmarks in Midlothian

Rosslyn Chapel is Midlothian’s most recognisable landmark, its ornate fifteenth-century stonework creating a strong visual identity in the wooded Roslin valley. The nearby remains of Rosslyn Castle occupy a dramatic rocky position above the River North Esk and add a defensive dimension to the chapel visit. In the Esk valley, Newbattle Abbey marks the site of a medieval Cistercian monastery, while its later estate buildings and grounds reflect the continuing influence of the Lothian family. Crichton Castle is notable for its unusual Renaissance-influenced façade and its isolated position in open country, where the surviving structure is especially legible against the surrounding fields. The Lady Victoria Colliery’s headgear and industrial buildings at Newtongrange are powerful reminders of the coalfield that shaped modern Midlothian. The Pentland Hills provide the region’s defining natural landmark, with reservoirs, ridgelines and open slopes forming a backdrop visible from much of central Midlothian and offering a marked contrast to the built-up edge of Edinburgh.

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Best restaurants in Midlothian

Midlothian’s dining scene is centred on village pubs, cafés, family-run restaurants, country-house settings and farm shops rather than a concentrated restaurant quarter. Menus commonly draw on Scottish produce, including beef, lamb, game, seasonal vegetables, smoked fish and bakery goods, while Edinburgh’s influence brings a wider choice of international and contemporary cooking. Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik and the larger former mining towns provide the broadest everyday selection, with rural inns and cafés serving walkers, families and visitors exploring nearby estates. Farm shops and food halls are useful places to look for local cheeses, preserves, baking and fresh produce, although individual stock varies by season. Traditional pub food remains an important part of the regional experience, while restaurants in country estates and historic settings offer more formal meals. Midlothian does not have one signature dish that defines it alone; its culinary character lies in access to the wider larder of Scotland and in the contrast between town cafés, countryside hospitality and locally sourced produce.

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Best bars in Midlothian

Midlothian’s evening life is relatively low-key and is shaped more by pubs, restaurants, hotel bars and occasional live music than by a large nightclub scene. Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik and Loanhead have the greatest concentration of places for an evening drink or casual meal, while smaller villages tend to rely on traditional pubs serving local communities. Some venues host quizzes, folk or popular music and community events, but programmes and opening arrangements change regularly. Craft beer, whisky and gin are widely available as part of Scotland’s broader drinks culture, though visitors need not drink alcohol to enjoy the region’s evenings. For theatre, major concerts, late-night clubs and a much wider choice of cocktail bars, Edinburgh is the natural nearby option outside Midlothian. In the countryside, plan transport carefully because late public services are limited and taxis may need to be booked in advance.

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Best nightclubs in Midlothian

Midlothian’s evening life is relatively low-key and is shaped more by pubs, restaurants, hotel bars and occasional live music than by a large nightclub scene. Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik and Loanhead have the greatest concentration of places for an evening drink or casual meal, while smaller villages tend to rely on traditional pubs serving local communities. Some venues host quizzes, folk or popular music and community events, but programmes and opening arrangements change regularly. Craft beer, whisky and gin are widely available as part of Scotland’s broader drinks culture, though visitors need not drink alcohol to enjoy the region’s evenings. For theatre, major concerts, late-night clubs and a much wider choice of cocktail bars, Edinburgh is the natural nearby option outside Midlothian. In the countryside, plan transport carefully because late public services are limited and taxis may need to be booked in advance.

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Best shops in Midlothian

Shopping in Midlothian is organised around market-town high streets, neighbourhood centres, independent food shops, cafés, farm shops and occasional local markets rather than major destination retail. Dalkeith and Penicuik offer the broadest everyday range, while Bonnyrigg, Loanhead, Gorebridge and Newtongrange retain smaller high-street services and independent businesses. Farm shops and rural food outlets are good places to seek Scottish cheeses, preserves, baking, seasonal vegetables and other edible gifts, although availability changes through the year. Around historic attractions, visitors may find books, prints, craft goods and locally themed souvenirs, but the region is not primarily a designer-shopping destination. Antiques, vintage furnishings and small galleries appear in selected towns and villages rather than in one concentrated district. For major department stores, designer brands and extensive evening shopping, Edinburgh lies immediately north and is easily reached by public transport or road. Buying from independent shops and producers helps visitors engage with the region’s post-industrial towns and agricultural surroundings rather than treating Midlothian solely as a commuter area.

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Midlothian essentials

Currency and Payment
Midlothian uses the pound sterling, currency code GBP, as part of the United Kingdom. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in towns, visitor attractions, cafés and larger shops. Carry some cash for small purchases, occasional rural businesses, parking arrangements or community events, since facilities are less predictable outside the main settlements. Scottish banknotes are legal tender throughout the UK, although businesses elsewhere may sometimes be unfamiliar with particular issues; exchanging them or using cards avoids unnecessary difficulty.
Safety
Midlothian is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary precautions remain appropriate in busy transport areas, car parks and public spaces. In the Pentland Hills, weather can change quickly, paths may be muddy and mobile coverage can be inconsistent, so carry suitable clothing, water and a charged phone. Take care on narrow rural roads and never obstruct access gates or farm entrances. Near reservoirs, rivers and steep slopes, keep to sensible viewpoints and marked paths. Check local information before setting out in severe weather.
Emergency Situations
In an emergency anywhere in Midlothian, call 999 or 112 for police, fire and rescue, ambulance or other urgent assistance. For non-urgent police matters, use 101. Give a precise location, particularly in the Pentland Hills or on a rural path, and describe nearby roads, buildings, signage or recognised landmarks. Mountain rescue may be requested through the emergency services when appropriate; visitors should not attempt difficult self-rescue in poor conditions. Pharmacies, GP services and urgent medical arrangements vary by town, so plan ahead for routine needs.
Do's and Don'ts
Do obey the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, leave gates as you find them, control dogs near livestock and take litter home. Do show respect in churches, chapels, cemeteries and historic properties, and ask before photographing people or private interiors. Do queue patiently and allow passengers to leave buses and trains before boarding. Do not climb on ruins, cross barriers or enter closed estate areas. Tipping is discretionary rather than compulsory, but a modest amount for good service in restaurants is customary; check whether a service charge has already been included.
Local Tips
Combine one major heritage site with a landscape visit rather than trying to cover every attraction in a single day. Dalkeith, Newtongrange and Gorebridge are particularly convenient for rail-based itineraries, while Penicuik is a useful base for the western side of the region and access to the Pentlands. Rosslyn Chapel and the National Mining Museum Scotland provide contrasting introductions to aristocratic, religious and industrial Midlothian. In rural areas, allow time for slower bus journeys and confirm access arrangements for estates, museums and seasonal attractions before travelling.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHiya[Hiy-uh]
GoodbyeCheerio[Cheer-ee-oh]
YesAye[Eye]
NoNaw[Naw]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No bother[Pleez/No bother]
Thank youCheers[Cheerz]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me/Sorry[Excuse me/Sorry]
How are you?How's it gaun?[How's it gon?]
Fine. And you?Aye, awright. An yersel?[Eye, aw-right. An yer-sel?]
Do you speak English?D'ye speak English?[D'ye speek Inglish?]
I don't understandAh dinnae understand[Ah din-ay un-der-stand]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseAh'd like tae see the menu, please[Ah'd lyk tay see thuh men-yoo, pleez]
I don't eat meatAh dinnae eat meat[Ah din-ay eet meet]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheerz!]
I would like to pay, pleaseAh'd like tae pay, please[Ah'd lyk tay pay, pleez]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Gie us peace![Gee us pees!]
Call the Police!Phone the polis![Foan thuh pole-iss!]
Call a doctor!Phone a doc![Foan a doc!]
I'm lostAh'm lost[Ah'm lost]
I'm illAh'm unwell[Ah'm un-well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ah'd like tae buy...[Ah'd lyk tay buy...]
I'm just lookingAh'm just lookin'[Ah'm just luk-in']
How much is it?How much's it?[How much's it?]
That's too expensiveThat's too dear[That's too deer]
Can you lower the price?Can ye knock the price doon?[Can ye nok thuh price doon?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Whit time is it?[Whit tym is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's won o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Morn-in']
AfternoonAfternoon[Aftern-un]
EveningEvenin'[Eve-nin']
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowMorrow[Mor-row]
11[1]
22[2]
33[3]
44[4]
55[5]
66[6]
77[7]
88[8]
99[9]
1010[10]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Whit's the...?[Whit's thuh...?]
What's the address?Whit’s the address?[Whit’s thuh ad-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ye show me (on the map)?[Can ye sho me (on thuh map)?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[When's thuh next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (ta....)[A tik-it (ta....)]

History of Midlothian

Prehistoric settlement and Roman frontiers

Midlothian’s hills, river valleys and fertile lower ground have supported settlement since prehistoric times. Evidence from the wider region includes prehistoric burial and settlement remains, while the Roman road network crossed southern Scotland and connected military centres beyond the modern county. Dere Street, the major Roman route running north from York, passed through the broader area towards the Roman fort at Cramond, outside Midlothian. The surviving landscape therefore reflects both long-established local occupation and the strategic importance of routes leading towards Edinburgh and the southern uplands.

Newbattle Abbey and medieval Midlothian

David I founded Newbattle Abbey in 1140 for Cistercian monks, establishing one of the region’s most influential medieval religious centres. The abbey controlled land, farming and water resources in the Esk valley, while its church and estate connected Midlothian to wider networks of devotion and administration. Although the medieval buildings were later remodelled or lost, the site’s history remains central to the region. Nearby settlements, churches and estate boundaries preserve elements of the medieval pattern of landholding that shaped Midlothian for centuries.

Rosslyn Chapel and the St Clair dynasty

William St Clair, a powerful nobleman and patron of architecture, founded Rosslyn Chapel in the fifteenth century. Built as a collegiate chapel, it is notable for its intricate stone carving, clustered columns and densely ornamented interior. The building was created during a period when aristocratic families used chapels, castles and estates to express lineage, religious commitment and social authority. Later interpretations have attached many speculative theories to Rosslyn Chapel, but its securely documented importance lies in its late-medieval architecture, craftsmanship and association with the St Clair family.

Crichton Castle and aristocratic power

Crichton Castle, near the village of Crichton, developed from a medieval tower house into a substantial noble residence. Its architecture records changing political circumstances and tastes, including Renaissance influences that are unusual in Scotland. The Crichton family’s fortunes were tied to the turbulent politics of the Scottish crown, and the estate later passed through other prominent hands. Today the partially ruined castle stands in open farmland, where its unusual façade and surviving defensive elements illustrate the transition from fortified residence to more elaborate country house.

Coal, railways and industrial expansion

From the eighteenth century onwards, coal mining became a defining force in Midlothian. Shafts, railways, brickworks and associated industries transformed rural parishes and encouraged the growth of communities including Newtongrange, Loanhead and Gorebridge. The arrival of rail transport connected collieries and industrial works with Edinburgh and wider markets, while miners’ housing and social institutions created distinctive community identities. Mining was physically demanding and economically cyclical, but it supplied fuel for domestic use and industry and left a lasting mark on the region’s landscape and culture.

The mining communities of the twentieth century

Midlothian’s coal industry declined during the twentieth century, particularly after national changes in energy production and the closure of pits. The end of deep mining brought severe economic and social disruption to communities that had depended on colliery employment for generations. Former pit sites were reclaimed, while museums, memorials and surviving industrial structures preserve aspects of that history. The National Mining Museum Scotland at the Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange occupies one of the region’s most important surviving industrial sites and explains the work, technology and community life associated with coal.

Renewal, conservation and the Borders Railway

Modern Midlothian has experienced new housing, business development and population growth alongside efforts to conserve historic estates, river valleys and former industrial land. The reopening of the railway connection from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders in 2015 restored passenger services to stations including Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge after decades without a railway. The line improved access to central Midlothian while also highlighting the region’s continuing relationship with Edinburgh. Contemporary Midlothian is therefore shaped by both post-industrial regeneration and its enduring agricultural, historic and rural landscapes.

Midlothian in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Midlothian

Discover Midlothian with Evendo: a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, shops, restaurants, and more. Plan the perfect trip effortlessly.

  • Comprehensive travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information for each location including images, descriptions, tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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More about the Evendo app

Evendo is an app-based travel guide that helps you explore Midlothian's top attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities. Download now for free!

  • Historical insights and travel essentials for Midlothian
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near Me' feature
  • 100% free to use with no in-app purchases or hidden costs

Welcome to Midlothian, a captivating region in the United Kingdom brimming with history, culture, and stunning landscapes. With Evendo, your journey becomes effortlessly enriching. Whether you're marveling at the grandeur of Rosslyn Chapel, wandering through the serene Dalkeith Country Park, or exploring the rich history at the National Mining Museum Scotland, our app ensures you don't miss a thing.

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