📌 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 car park in the base of the glen, this walk begins with a climb up to dramatic Roslin Castle and ornate Rosslyn Chapel – the latter visitable for a fee. The rest of the circuit largely goes on to explore the gentler, upstream part of the glen on the west side of the 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 at first.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Bridge over the North Esk near the start 
Steps up to Roslin Castle 
Roslin Castle (private) 
Rosslyn Chapel 
Roslin Glen 
Path along the River North Esk 
Gunpowder Mills 
Gunpowder Mills 
Roslin Glen west walk 
Gunpowder Mills 
Gunpowder Mills 
River North Esk 
Track out of Roslin Glen 
Distant Pentland Hills 
Railway bed return 
Rosslyn Castle old railway station 
Descent back into the glen by road 
Final pavement section
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish in Roslin Glen, B7003 0.5 mi south of Roslin
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 273629
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.853598,-3.163414
🚌 Bus to Roslin – join walk route at Rosslyn Chapel
🚗 Car park (alternatively, use car park for Rosslyn Chapel & join walk route there)
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 120 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 🏰 Roslin Castle; ⛪ Rosslyn Chapel ★★★★; 🌊 Roslin Glen & Gunpowder Mills
⬤ Moderate | Woodland paths & tracks, sometimes muddy. Return on old railway bed & pavement. Steep start & finish with steps.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Roslin Castle – Rosslyn Chapel – path to west descends to waterworks – riverside path to Roslin Glen Gunpowder Mills – dismantled railway to Rosslyn Castle old railway station – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Grey squirrels, grey wagtails, tits, robins, blackbirds.
Weather: Sunny, 5°C with old snow patches in sheltered spots.
December 2020 (some photos more recent)
