📌 Roslin, Midlothian
★★
Roslin Glen is a gorge of two halves, bisected by the hairpins of the B7003 connecting Roslin village with Rosewell. Starting from the famous tourist attraction of Rosslyn Chapel – visitable for a fee – this circuit largely explores the gentler, upstream part of the glen on the west side of the B-road. Though easier on the eye than the wild section of gorge further east, there’s still an “explosive” mix of natural and manmade interest. Woodland tracks lead to the ruins of what used to be Scotland’s biggest gunpowder mill, located on the inside of a river meander overlooked by imposing cliffs. A section of the dismantled Dalkeith to Penicuik railway line is used for the return – with fleeting views of the Pentland Hills – with a final steep ascent past the ruins of Roslin Castle.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Path west from Rosslyn Chapel 
Roslin Glen 
Gunpowder Mill 
Gunpowder Mill 
Gunpowder Mill 
River cliff at the mill 
North Esk at the mill 
Climb out of Roslin Glen, Pentland Hills beyond 
Rosslyn Castle former railway station 
Descent back into the glen by road 
Bridge over the North Esk 
Steps up to Roslin Castle 
Roslin Castle (private) 
Rosslyn Chapel at the finish
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Rosslyn Chapel, Chapel Loan, southeast side of Roslin village (alternative start at car park in Roslin Glen, elsewhere on route)
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 274631
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.855739,-3.161456
🚌 Bus to Roslin
🚗 Rosslyn Chapel car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 120 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: ⛪ Rosslyn Chapel ★★★★; 🌊 Roslin Glen & Gunpowder Mills; 🏰 Roslin Castle
⬤ Easy | Woodland paths & tracks, sometimes muddy, some sections of minor road / pavement. A couple of steep ascents / descents with steps.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start & Rosslyn Chapel – path to west descends to waterworks – riverside path to Roslin Glen Gunpowder Mills – dismantled railway to Rosslyn Castle old railway station – Roslin Castle – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Grey squirrels, mallard ducks, grey wagtails, woodland birds.
Weather: Sunny, 18°C, moderately breezy.
June 2024 (some photos less recent)
