Top Things to Do in Midlothian, Scotland

Crichton Castle is a ruined castle situated at the head of the River Tyne, near the village of Crichton in Midlothian. Crichton has four main buildings arranged around an inner courtyard. There is a 14th century tower at the east of the castle with a vaulted basement, and a vaulted hall above. The south-west corner of the tower has collapsed. A second tower was built in the early 15th century forming an L-plan, with a gate between the two towers. The south tower has vaulted cellars on either side of the entrance. Two halls occupied the first and second floors. In the later 15th century a west block was added, with a six-storey tower at the south-west, containing several bedrooms. Crichton Castle was built in the late 14th century by John de Crichton as a tower house family residence. The castle was stormed and damaged in 1445 in response to Crichton's role in organizing the "Black Dinner" where the Earl of Douglas was murdered. Crichton was rebuilt and extended. In 1488, James IV granted Crichton to Patrick Hepburn, Lord Hailes. The fourth Earl, James Hepburn was, in February 1567, implicated in the murder of Queen Mary's husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and became Mary's third husband in May of that year. In 1956, the castle was given into state care by its owner, Major Henry Callander of Prestonhall. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument administered by Historic Scotland. The Arts Crichton Castle was used as a location in the 1995 film Rob Roy Legends To the south of the castle is a building that is said to be haunted by the ghost of William Crichton.

Newbattle Abbey near Dalkeith in Midlothian is a historic abbey building that has served as Scotland's residential college for adult education since 1937, making it one of the most distinctive educational institutions in Scotland and a continuing living use for a building of considerable historical significance. The abbey was founded by King David I as a Cistercian monastery in 1140 and was one of the most important monasteries in medieval Scotland. The buildings were substantially rebuilt in the seventeenth century after the Reformation destroyed much of the medieval fabric. Notable alumni of Newbattle Abbey College include Hugh MacDiarmid, one of the most important Scottish poets of the twentieth century, and the college continues to provide life-changing educational opportunities for adults returning to learning in a unique and historic environment.

Dalhousie Castle is a magnificent medieval castle hotel set in the rolling countryside of Midlothian, Scotland, widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric and romantic castle hotels in the entire country. Dating back to the thirteenth century, the castle is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Scotland and has been transformed into a luxury hotel while retaining much of its extraordinary historical character. It sits in around twelve acres of woodland along the banks of the River South Esk, presenting visitors with an experience that genuinely feels removed from the modern world. Its combination of authentic medieval architecture, lavish interiors and woodland setting makes it a destination sought out for weddings, special occasions and simply for the pleasure of sleeping within ancient stone walls. The castle has roots stretching back to the 1200s and was the ancestral seat of the Ramsay family for over six centuries, a tenure that speaks to its remarkable continuity of ownership and its deep entanglement with Scottish history. The Ramsays were a powerful Borders family, and the castle witnessed countless episodes of Scottish political turmoil. King Edward I of England, known as the Hammer of the Scots, is said to have stayed at Dalhousie, as did Mary Queen of Scots, who used the castle as a base during her campaigns. Oliver Cromwell's forces occupied it during the seventeenth century, and the Duke of Cumberland is associated with the estate in the context of the Jacobite period. This history of royal and military association gives the castle an almost theatrical historical weight. Physically, Dalhousie Castle is a study in the drama of Scottish baronial architecture. Its towers, battlements and thick sandstone walls rise with commanding authority from the wooded riverbank, the warm honey and grey tones of the stone catching the light in a way that shifts beautifully across the seasons. Approaching down the tree-lined drive, the castle appears gradually through mature woodland, creating a sense of ceremonial arrival. Inside, the ceilings are vaulted in places, the fireplaces enormous, and the stonework exposed throughout so that guests are constantly reminded of the building's age. The low hum of the river nearby and birdsong filtering through old windows give the place a quality of deep stillness. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially Midlothian: gently undulating, wooded in places, threaded by rivers, and agricultural in character without being bleak. The village of Bonnyrigg lies close by, and the town of Dalkeith is a short distance away. Edinburgh itself is only around ten miles to the north, making Dalhousie an accessible escape from the city that nonetheless feels genuinely rural. Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code but long celebrated as a masterpiece of medieval stone carving, is just a few miles away, making the area particularly rich for those interested in history and heritage. The Pentland Hills are visible from parts of the estate, adding a broader scenic context. For visitors, the castle operates as a hotel and is not a conventional tourist attraction with open public access, so the best way to experience it is to stay there, dine in its celebrated Dungeon Restaurant, or attend one of the various events it hosts throughout the year. The Dungeon Restaurant is carved into the castle's original vaulted basement and is genuinely extraordinary — low-ceilinged, candlelit, and entirely medieval in feel, it offers a dining experience with real theatre. The castle also houses a falconry centre, allowing guests to interact with birds of prey in the woodland grounds, which adds another layer of unusual charm. Weddings are among the most popular uses, and the castle's combination of chapel space and grand interiors makes it one of Scotland's most sought-after wedding venues. One of the more fascinating details of Dalhousie is the ghost said to inhabit it — Lady Catherine, a young woman who according to legend was locked in one of the upper rooms by a jealous nobleman and left to die there. Her presence is reportedly felt most strongly in the tower areas, and the castle leans into this history in a charming rather than exploitative way. The castle's library and sitting rooms are filled with period furnishings and portraits that reinforce the sense of continuity between past and present. The fact that it remains not merely standing but actively used and celebrated, after nearly eight hundred years of continuous existence, is perhaps the most remarkable thing about it.

Castlelaw Fort is an Iron Age hillfort situated on the northern slopes of the Pentland Hills, just south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It represents one of the most significant prehistoric monuments in the Lothian region and offers visitors a rare opportunity to walk through the physical remains of a settlement that was inhabited over two thousand years ago. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and is freely accessible to the public, making it one of the more rewarding archaeological sites in central Scotland for those willing to make the short walk from the road. Its combination of defensive earthworks, an underground souterrain, and commanding views over the Midlothian plain gives it a character quite distinct from many comparable hillforts in the region. The fort itself dates primarily from the first millennium BC, with evidence suggesting occupation spanning several centuries during the Iron Age, roughly from around 600 BC into the early centuries AD. The site consists of a series of concentric earthen ramparts and ditches that were constructed in multiple phases, indicating that the settlement grew and was modified over time by successive communities. At its heart are the remains of a roundhouse platform, and embedded within the interior is a remarkably well-preserved souterrain, an underground stone-lined passage that would have served as a storage facility for food and other perishables, taking advantage of the constant cool temperature below ground. This souterrain can still be entered today, making it one of the most tactile and memorable features of any prehistoric site in the area. The physical experience of visiting Castlelaw is defined by open space, wind, and silence broken only by birdsong and the occasional distant aircraft. The earthworks, though softened by millennia of weathering and turf growth, are still impressively visible as broad grassy banks and hollows that roll across the hillside. The ramparts, which once would have been topped with timber palisades, now read as gentle ridges, but walking along their tops gives a visceral sense of the defensive intent behind their construction. The souterrain itself is a low, narrow stone-roofed passage that requires visitors to crouch and move carefully; the stones are cold to the touch even in summer, and the darkness inside is complete once you move beyond the entrance, lending the experience a genuinely atmospheric quality. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially Pentland Hills country: a series of rounded moorland summits rising to around 500 metres, clothed in heather, rough grass, and bracken, with small burns running through the valleys between them. The view north from the fort encompasses much of Midlothian and the southern suburbs of Edinburgh, with the distinctive outline of Arthur's Seat and the Edinburgh skyline visible on clear days. The reservoir of Threipmuir and Harlaw lie a short distance to the northwest, and the Castlelaw Rifle Range, operated by the Ministry of Defence, occupies land immediately adjacent to the site, which means that red flags are occasionally flown and access to surrounding hillsides can be temporarily restricted on certain days. The site sits within the Pentland Hills Regional Park, a protected landscape covering around 90 square kilometres of hills, moorland, and farmland on the edge of Edinburgh. The park is a popular destination for walkers, mountain bikers, and horse riders, and the path network around Castlelaw connects to longer routes across the hills towards Glencorse, Flotterstone, and beyond. The village of Flotterstone, about a kilometre to the east along the A702, has a small car park and a visitor information point that serves as a common starting point for hill walks in this part of the Pentlands. Glencorse Reservoir and its associated woodland are also within comfortable walking distance. To reach Castlelaw Fort, the most straightforward approach is by car along the A702 Edinburgh to Biggar road, turning off at Flotterstone and then taking the minor road southwest towards Castlelaw Farm. A small parking area sits close to the fort, and from there a short uphill path of perhaps ten to fifteen minutes leads directly to the site. There is no admission charge. By public transport, Lothian Buses operate services along the A702 to Flotterstone, from which visitors can walk to the site in roughly twenty to thirty minutes. The ground is uneven and can be muddy after rain, so sturdy footwear is advisable. The site is open year-round and there are no fences or gates restricting access. One of the most remarkable and lesser-known aspects of Castlelaw is the degree to which its souterrain has survived intact compared to similar structures elsewhere in Scotland, many of which have collapsed or been built over. The careful preservation of the passage allows modern visitors to experience something genuinely close to what Iron Age inhabitants would have known. Archaeological excavations carried out in the early twentieth century helped clarify the phasing of the ramparts and uncovered artefacts including pottery and metalwork that pointed to the site's long occupation. The fort also sits in a broader prehistoric landscape, with cup-and-ring marked rocks and other ancient features found elsewhere in the Pentlands, suggesting that this part of Scotland was densely settled and culturally active throughout prehistory.

Dalkeith Palace, located in Midlothian, Scotland, has a rich history dating back to the 12th century, evolving from a medieval castle to a grand classical house completed in 1711. Origins and Early History Dalkeith Palace was originally built on the site of a medieval castle that dates back to the 12th century, associated with the Clan Graham. The castle was strategically located above a bend in the River North Esk, providing a defensible position. In the 14th century, the castle passed to the Clan Douglas through marriage, becoming a significant stronghold in the region. Notably, James Douglas, the 1st Lord Dalkeith, was a prominent figure in the area, and the castle was often visited by royalty, including Margaret Tudor in 1503 and Cardinal Beaton in 1543. Construction of the Palace The current Dalkeith Palace was commissioned by Anna Scott, the 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, and designed by architect James Smith. Construction began in 1702 and was completed in 1711. The palace is regarded as one of the grandest early classical houses in Scotland, modeled after the Het Loo Palace in the Netherlands. The design incorporated elements of the earlier castle, with some of its walls still visible in the new structure. Architectural Significance Dalkeith Palace is celebrated for its architectural grandeur, featuring extensive use of marble and intricate engravings by Grinling Gibbons. The palace underwent various renovations and expansions over the years, including the addition of the Montagu Bridge designed by Robert Adam in the 18th century. Despite plans for further modifications in the 1820s, many of these were never realized, preserving much of the original design. Later History and Current Use The Buccleuch family resided in Dalkeith Palace until 1914, after which it was repurposed for various uses, including as a research office and a study abroad program for the University of Wisconsin. The palace has not been lived in by the Buccleuch family since then, and its gardens were let as market gardens in the 1920s. As of now, Dalkeith Palace is part of the Dalkeith Country Park, which is undergoing redevelopment to enhance its historical and cultural significance. Conclusion Dalkeith Palace stands as a testament to Scotland's rich history, reflecting the architectural styles and social dynamics of its time. Its evolution from a medieval stronghold to a classical palace illustrates the changing landscape of Scottish nobility and heritage. Today, it remains a site of interest for visitors exploring Scotland's historical narrative.

Rosslyn Chapel near Roslin in Midlothian is one of the most elaborately decorated medieval buildings in Scotland, a small fifteenth-century collegiate church whose extraordinary carved stonework covering virtually every internal surface with biblical scenes, foliage, figures and symbolic motifs has fascinated scholars, occultists and ordinary visitors for centuries. The chapel was built by William Sinclair, first Earl of Orkney, between 1446 and 1484, and the density and quality of its carved decoration, far exceeding anything else produced in Scotland in this period, reflects both the exceptional wealth of the Sinclair family and an ambition in stone carving that remains difficult to fully explain. The chapel achieved worldwide celebrity with the publication of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code in 2003 and the subsequent film, both of which featured the chapel as the hiding place of the Holy Grail and wove an elaborate conspiracy narrative around its unusual decorative programme. The resulting surge of visitor interest transformed the chapel from a moderately visited Scottish heritage site into an internationally famous destination, bringing visitors from across the world who may or may not accept the novel's fictional framing but who find the chapel's extraordinary carved interior compelling for its genuine historical and artistic qualities. The Apprentice Pillar, the most celebrated of the chapel's carved columns, is a pillar of extraordinary ornamental complexity whose spiral bands of intertwining foliage rise from its base to an elaborately carved capital. The legend attached to it, in which the master mason killed his apprentice in a rage of jealousy upon returning from Rome to find the pillar completed to a standard he could not have achieved himself, is a Victorian invention but captures something of the genuine wonder that the column produces in observers. The surrounding Roslin Glen provides pleasant walking and the ruined Roslin Castle adds further medieval interest to the area.

Borthwick Castle is located to the east of the village of Borthwick, about 12 miles south-east of Edinburgh. The castle sits on a small hill and is protected on three sides by steep slopes. Borthwick Castle was built in 1430 for Sir William Borthwick. The castle is a double tower and in good condition, and none of the original narrow windows have been changed. The battlements are supported by projecting corbels with corner roundels, but have lost their stepped crenellations. The tower has two doorways. One doorway at ground-level leads into the partly underground kitchen and storage-vaults. The other doorway is directly above it at first-floor level, and leads into the stone-vaulted great hall. The castle is accessed via a reconstructed stone bridge. Borthwick Castle was built on the site of an earlier structure in the 15th century. The castle is the seat of the Borthwick family ancestral seat. Sir William Borthwick built the castle in 1430. The castle was originally a stone enclosure fortress centred on a tall tower house with walls up to 14 feet thick. The tower is U-shaped with a 12 foot gap between the towers. There was a surrounding defensive courtyard with round towers at the corners. The tower house is in mainly original condition but the surrounding wall and towers have been restored. Borthwick Castle was visited twice by Mary I of Scotland, in 1563 and again in 1567 when she was besieged inside - she escaped the siege by disguising herself as a page. In 1650 the Castle was attacked by Oliver Cromwell's forces, and was surrendered after only a few cannon shots. Cannon damage from this attack can still be seen on one of the walls. When Cromwell's forces left the castle, it lay abandoned for many years before being restored by 1914. During World War II the castle was used to store national treasures. In 1973 it was leased from the Borthwick family and converted into a hotel. Some of the guest rooms have four poster beds. The Great Hall is used as a dining room and caters for banquets for up to 75 guests, as well as smaller parties and couples. The castle can be hired as a wedding venue for 2 to 75 people. Wedding ceremony (religious or civil) and reception can take place in the castle.

Mavisbank Policies is a historic designed landscape in Midlothian, Scotland, centred on the ruins of Mavisbank House, one of Scotland's most architecturally significant early Georgian buildings. The term "policies" refers in Scottish usage to the ornamental grounds and parkland surrounding a country house, and those at Mavisbank represent a rare and evocative survival of an early eighteenth-century designed landscape, albeit one that has suffered considerable neglect and deterioration. The site is considered of outstanding importance to Scottish architectural and landscape history, and despite the ruinous state of the house, it draws historians, heritage enthusiasts, and those with a taste for romantic decay. Mavisbank House was designed by William Adam, Scotland's foremost architect of the early Georgian period, in collaboration with its owner Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, a distinguished polymath, connoisseur, and patron of the arts who was himself a gifted amateur architect. Construction began around 1723, making it one of the earliest Palladian villas in Scotland. The house was inspired by the Italianate villa tradition and represented a conscious attempt to bring continental sophistication to Scottish domestic architecture. Sir John Clerk was a man of considerable cultural ambition who had travelled in Italy and was deeply influenced by classical antiquity; Mavisbank was his expression of enlightened taste in stone and landscape. The property passed through various hands over subsequent centuries, and in the nineteenth century it was adapted for use as a private lunatic asylum, a not uncommon fate for Scottish country houses of the period. A fire in 1973 gutted the interior and left the building roofless, and it has stood as a ruin ever since, the subject of repeated campaigns for its rescue and restoration. The physical experience of visiting Mavisbank is haunting and atmospheric in equal measure. The house itself stands as a stark shell, its rubble-built wings and central Palladian façade still legible in outline but overgrown with vegetation, with buddleia and elder pushing through window openings and moss colonising the ashlar stonework. The formal symmetry of the original design — a compact main block flanked by quadrant colonnades connecting to pavilions — can still be traced, and the quality of the original craftsmanship is apparent even through the decay. The surrounding policies retain traces of the original landscape design, including earthworks, terracing, and the remnants of formal planting, all gradually being reclaimed by rough grassland and self-seeded woodland. There is a melancholy beauty to the site that makes it deeply affecting to wander. The landscape around Mavisbank sits in the valley of the North Esk river, a gentle wooded ravine that cuts through the broader Midlothian plain south of Edinburgh. The river itself runs close to the site, adding a quality of sound — rushing water over stones — that enhances the pastoral atmosphere. The surrounding area is semi-rural, caught between the urban fringe of Edinburgh to the north and the more open agricultural and former mining landscapes of Midlothian to the south. The village of Loanhead is nearby, as is Bonnyrigg, and the broader area falls within reach of the Pentland Hills Regional Park. The woodland along the North Esk valley forms part of a green corridor that includes the grounds of Roslin Glen Country Park a short distance to the south. Mavisbank is managed in part through the efforts of conservation bodies and has been on the Buildings at Risk register for Scotland for many years. The Friends of Mavisbank and Historic Environment Scotland have both been involved in efforts to stabilise and ultimately restore the house. Access to the grounds is possible on foot, and the site can be approached via paths from Loanhead or from the direction of Polton. Visitors should be aware that the building itself is structurally unsafe and should not be entered. The surrounding policies can be explored freely, and the combination of the ruin, the river, and the remnant landscape makes for a compelling walk. The site is best visited in spring or early autumn when vegetation is not so dense as to obscure the landscape features, and the light in Midlothian at those times of year can be remarkably beautiful. One of the more remarkable aspects of Mavisbank's story is how much of its original designed character has survived beneath the layers of neglect. Survey work has revealed the survival of eighteenth-century terracing, ha-has, and planting schemes that would be of enormous significance if the site were properly restored. Sir John Clerk's vision for Mavisbank was not merely architectural but philosophical — a landscape in which classical learning, agricultural improvement, and aesthetic pleasure were intended to coexist. That vision is still faintly legible on the ground, making Mavisbank something more than a picturesque ruin: it is a document of Scottish Enlightenment culture written in earth and stone.