June
Walk of the Year
Rosslyn Chapel
Walk leader | George |
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Route | Eskbank Station – Bonnyrigg – Lasswade – Hewan Bog – Rosslyn Chapel – RossylnCastle – Roslin Glen – Penicuik – return by bus to Eskbank Toll. |
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Weather | Warm and sunny until late afternoon when it clouded over. |
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Walkers | George, Ron, Sandy, Diane, Lance, Julie. |
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Excuses | Bernie - Blaydon Races Ashley - injured back |
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Comments |
Those of us from Newcastle took the train from Tweedbank to Eskbank, where we met up with Julie and Lance. Evelyn continued on to Edinburgh, and then got the bus out to Roslin. We walked along the old railway to the edge of Bonnyrigg before dropping down to Lasswade and walking up the north side of the river North Esk to the Hewan Bog, site of the Battle of Roslin on 24 February 1303. We passed the monument to the battle and a couple of agricultural research units. We stopped at the village green at Roslin to wait for Evelyn who arrived on the bus 12 minutes after us. We had lunch on the green beside the war memorial. A green vintage MG which was parked outside the Original Rosslyn Hotel was attracting a lot of attention. We strolled along to the Chapel, where we left Evelyn to go inside while we walked the short distance to the Castle – an impressive ruin on a promontory with a steep drop into the glen. There were some curious alcoves on the northern wall. We descended into Roslin Glen underneath the rampart which is built on a large natural rock. Lance and Julie left us here to head south for their holiday. We walked through Roslin Glen Country Park, and saw the ruins of the carpet factory where George’s grandfather had been manager. Two turbines were on display outside. These were made by Marine Energy Reclaim, who occupied part of the building. Lots of dogs were running around, and wild flowers were prolific. Further up the glen we walked through the ruins of an explosives factory which had made gunpowder for over 200 years until its closure in the 1960’s. Eventually we climbed up to join the old railway track to Penicuik – including going through a couple of tunnels. In Penicuik, a helpful bus driver gave us a lift along to the next bus stop to get the bus back to Eskbank. We contacted Evelyn, who, because there was a screen showing the progress of the bus, was able to sit in Dolly’s Café until the bus arrived. Wildlife: 2 buzzards, wagtail, lambs, lots of hooded crows, tortoiseshell cat in Penicuik. Riders on horses. |
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Meal | ||||
Justinlees Inn, Eskbank Toll. Nice meal, very friendly dogs. Ruby met an admirer. |
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Photo Gallery |
Scott Monument, Edinburgh
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David Livingston (and seagull) |
Walkers lunching on Roslin Green |
MG at Roslin |
Packing up |
Entrance to Rosslyn Chapel |
Rosslyn Chapel
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Rosslyn Castle
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House at Rosslyn Castle
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Rampart
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Below the ramparts
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Roslin Glen Country Park
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Turbines
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River North Esk
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Roslin Glen
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The river again
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Auchendinny Tunnel
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Inside the Tunnel
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