📌 Town in Midlothian
★
Penicuik (Hill of the Cuckoo in Old Brythonic / southern Celtic – ahhh!) is today a sizeable commuter town for Edinburgh, sprawling along the foot of the Pentland Hills about 10 miles south of the capital. But it’s original growth came thanks to paper making, with mills established along the River North Esk by the early 18th century; there’s a small heritage museum on this subject, and conspicuously ornate cottages near the main bridge over the river are some of the original workers’ accommodation. The centre is architecturally a bit patchy – with some fine old buildings but also a particularly uninspiring pedestrianised area – but the walk from here to Penicuik House is worthwhile, as are many nearby routes in the Pentlands.
🌍 Location
📌 Midlothian
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 236599
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.826419,-3.221259
🚶 The paper making museum is in the town centre. It’s a 1.5 mi walk to Penicuik House, using our walking route linked below.
🚌 Penicuik is served by buses from Edinburgh, Peebles, Galashiels and other southern Scottish towns.
Explore nearby
<1 mi away
>> Penicuik Papermaking Museum (not yet featured)
>> Walk: Penicuik paper trail ★★★ (map: green)
<3 mi away
>> Penicuik House (1 mi ←) (not yet featured)
>> Castlelaw Hill Fort ★★★ (2 mi ↑)
>> Walk: Capelaw & Castlelaw Hills – Kirk Burn round ★★★ (2 mi ↑, map: black)
>> Walk: Carnethy Hill – Pentlands ridge & reservoirs ★★★ (2 mi ↑, map: orange)
>> Rosslyn Chapel ★★★★ (3 mi →)
>> Walk: Dark side of Roslin Glen – hidden world below a famous chapel ★★★★ (3 mi →, map: red)
>> Walk: The lighter side to Roslin Glen ★★ (3 mi →, map: blue)
