📌 Loanhead, Midlothian
★★★
The slice of countryside in between Loanhead and Lasswade south of Edinburgh boasts numerous points of interest, with the blue ribbons of Bilston Burn and the River North Esk at the centre of it all. Start by viewing Bilston Glen from the airy heights of a 140-foot viaduct before descending steeply into the woodland below; the return visits 18th century Mavisbank House, built by famous architect William Adam and described as Scotland’s first Palladian villa, but sadly gutted by fire in 1973.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Station Road, Loanhead town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 283656
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.878333,-3.147121
🚌 Bus to Loanhead
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 130 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 🏠 Loanhead; 🌊 River North Esk; 🏰 Mavisbank House
⬤ Moderate | Paths, sometimes narrow / steep / muddy. At least one stile to climb.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Fountain Green – Bilston Glen Viaduct (don’t cross) & Rosslyn Chapel – Polton – west side of Lasswade via north bank of River North Esk – Mavisbank House – join Lasswade Road (A768) to north – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Mallard ducks, chaffinches, tits, robins, lots of butterflies.
Weather: Good sunny spells, moderate temperatures.
May 2026
