Gowkley Moss - Roslin - Dryden - Kilburn Circular

Morley Sewell

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The walk starts along a flat, tarmac bridle-track beside a conifer wood, fringed by deciduous trees, with good views of the Pentland Hills over the fields to the left. The full route later turns sharp right but there is an option of cutting a corner by taking a gravel path through a wildlife conservation area on the site of the old Moat Pit. The combined route then runs along the back of a modern housing estates in Roslin Village with the Moorfoot Hills visible in the distance over the village roofs.

Having passed along an old single-track railway cutting and through a tubular tunnel under a main road, the route follows the only short stretch of road on the walk. This passes through a quiet cul-de-sac in front of a row of modern semi-bungalows and then briefly winds through an older council estate to join a quiet, narrow road, which soon leads to the start of The Roslyn Chapel Way. At first this is an access road to two local farms which runs over a bridge across the old railway line and behind an area, once the site of Roslin Institute, now being developed as a housing estate.

Shortly after passing the memorial to the Battle of Roslin, 1303 and the entrance to Dryden Farm, Roslyn Chapel Way becomes a tarred and illuminated walk and cycleway, which runs along an elevated stretch with good views over Roslin Glen to the right. Having crossed a bridge over the farm road, it later goes over an old railway viaduct high above the densely wooded Bilston Glen.

The route then goes through area of old railway-sidings, now a birch wood, along the steep north-west side of Bilston Glen and on through bluebell-filled woods on the left bank of the Kill Burn to reach and cross Roslin North Road. Another byway, with further extensive views of the Pentland Hills off to the right, leads back to the start of the walk.

Scotland - Central Scotland - Midlothian - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Castle, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Wildlife, Woodland

6/12/2012 - Walkingworld Admin

Our thanks to Morley Sewells for his updates for this walk. June 2012. Adrian (Admin)

9/16/2008 - Penelope Philipson

Wonderful wee walk with lots of variation ie hill views, town, wood, river etc. If there has been rain, there'll be mud. The bus stop (Lothian, no. 15) is directly opposite the start of the walk (push the button when you're coming out of town, Bilston, passing the crescent of houses on the right).