Brilliant attractions
Midlothian is easier to discover than ever before thanks to the Borders Railway. The railway line travels through beautiful countryside, connecting Edinburgh to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders with stops at the Midlothian towns of Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge.
A thriving mining area in times gone past, you’ll find former mining communities dotted throughout Midlothian. One of these charming villages is Newtongrange, whose Lady Victoria Colliery is open to the public as the National Mining Museum Scotland, complete with a 1,625-foot shaft and a winding tower powered by Scotland’s largest steam engine. A great place for kids, the visitor centre brings the mine and the local community to life with 'magic helmets' self-guided tours, which enable you to go on shift and experience a virtual-reality tour of life below ground.
The Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend is a great place for the whole family to have some fun. Spend a few exhilarating hours whizzing down the dry ski slope or have a go on the tubing chutes. The slopes are completely artificial so can be enjoyed at any time of year.
Visit the mysterious, late-Gothic Rosslyn Chapel, which featured prominently in the blockbuster film and book, The Da Vinci Code. See the famous Apprentice Pillar in the richly-decorated chapel before popping into the state-of-the-art visitor centre where you can learn more about the building’s history and enjoy a delicious slice of home baking and a drink. Afterwards, take a wander through the beautiful Rosslyn Glen and enjoy the sounds of birds in the trees and the babbling river as you meander along the glen’s quiet woodland path.
There is also the trampoline park RYZE which is a fun family friendly place to go where you can improve your fitness, balance and agility.
Natural spaces
Explore over 4 miles of beautiful woodland walks in the 105 hectares of woodland and Victorian parkland at Vogrie Country Park near Gorebridge. Snap some pictures of the park’s attractive Victorian mansion, built in 1876, or enjoy a round on the nine-hole golf course. Kids will love the adventure playground, water features and miniature railway and you can all catch your breath with a bite to eat at the Cedar Tree Cafe.
Dalkeith Country Park is the perfect place for a fun family day out. Kids will love exploring Fort Douglas, the park's fantastic children’s adventure playground, and you can grab a bite to eat and pick up gifts and treats to take home in the Restoration Yard cafe and store. Take a walk through the park’s semi-natural woodland, and make sure to look out for Robert Adam’s Montagu Bridge, which straddles the River North Esk in a graceful arch, as well as deer, foxes and myriads of smaller birds, animals and insects.
Tasty food & drink
If you visit on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, be sure to stop off at Stewart Brewing in Loanhead, where you can book a tour of this lovely independent brewery. See how their craft beers are produced, discover the science of brewing and taste a sample of their delicious tipples.
Other great food and drink options in Midlothian include Cafe Panola at the Pentland Plants Garden Centre in Loanhead, where you can enjoy a great selection of meals and a mouth-watering slice of home baking, and The Paper Mill in Lasswade, which serves tempting dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, alongside a vibrant selection of hand-picked beers from Scotland and beyond.
Check out our Midlothian video and Game on! videos and discover something new about Midlothian.
Midlothian, Something Different: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGOEAyaH3k
Game On!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN2FWVXnnW8
You can also get all the information you need on Midlothian and Scottish Borders at your fingertips - download the Scotland Starts Here app from the App Store or Google Play.
