Roslin is a wee village situated 7 miles south of Edinburgh, and with lockdown restrictions having eased a number of weeks ago, we decided to head there for a day out!
1. Roslin Glen Country Park
Roslin Glen Country Park is a wooded glen in the North Esk Valley near Roslin. It is full of beautiful, lush trees and if you look closely, lots of tiny wildlife!
Inside the park are the remains of the Roslin Glen Gunpowder Mills. There is really nothing left of the gunpowder mills but for 150 years between 1803 and 1954, it was a noisy and dangerous place.
From the information board in the park, “The mill supplied gunpowder and incendiaries for the military and gunpowder for blasting in mines and quarries. The location was ideal. The river powered the mills, there was easy access to timber and coal and it was near the ports on the Forth. The valley and trees helped contain any accidental explosions that happened while this risky work went on.”
Thankfully, nature and wildlife are now back and booming in the park! Check out the Roslin Glen map, which is a good resource that tells you more about the park and shows suggested walks. We started near Rosslyn Chapel and walked towards Penicuik, but you can also walk in the other direction towards Wallace’s Cave.
2. Rosslyn Chapel
You might recognise Rosslyn Chapel from the movie, The Da Vinci Code. It is a 15th-century chapel founded as a Catholic collegiate church built on a hill above Roslin Glen. In 1592, the chapel’s altars were destroyed and the chapel started decaying. However, Queen Victoria visited the site in 1842 and wanted it to be preserved.
Now, the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, established in 1995, oversees its conservation and it being a tourist destination. Visit the Rosslyn Chapel website for information on tickets.
3. Roslin Castle
A partially ruined castle near Rosslyn Chapel, there has been a castle in this area since the 14th century. Roslin Castle was damaged in 1544 in the War of the Rough Wooing and was then rebuilt.
Further renovations took place in the 1980s and the castle now offers holiday accommodation through the Landmark Trust.
Check out our YouTube video for a more visual experience of Roslin!
If you’re looking for a lovely day out from Edinburgh, why not head to Roslin? Have you ever been? What would you like to visit the most? Let us know in the comments!
My brother and I were fortunate enough to have been evacuated from London via Edinburgh (our father’s home) to Roslin between 1940 and 1945. We actually lived in Roslin Castle until our mother procured a cottage for us to stay in Roslin Glen – outside taps and dry closets, although there were a couple of wash houses round the back – heat your own water in the brick coppers! On our return to London, as part of our introduction to public speaking, at the age of 12 I delivered a speech lasting all of 2 minutes about my stay I Roslin Castle. It was a hit amongst my classmates and even our English teacher was impressed I seem to remember. On a personal note I wonder if the huge yew tree is still there in the lower grounds. Anyone know?
My brother and I were fortunate enough to have been evacuated from London via Edinburgh (our father’s home) to Roslin between 1940 and 1945. We actually lived in Roslin Castle until our mother procured a cottage for us to stay in Roslin Glen – outside taps and dry closets, although there were a couple of wash houses round the back – heat your own water in the brick coppers! On our return to London, as part of our introduction to public speaking, at the age of 12 I delivered a speech lasting all of 2 minutes about my stay I Roslin Castle. It was a hit amongst my classmates and even our English teacher was impressed I seem to remember. On a personal note I wonder if the huge yew tree is still there in the lower grounds. Anyone know?