Penicuik
The town of Penicuik is ideally located for exploring the city of Edinburgh as it is one of the beautiful border counties. Transport into the city centre is available via a bus service around every 10 minutes so there is no need to face the daunting prospect of driving into the heart of Scotland’s capital city.
The historic heart of the town is Penicuik House which has a number of links to Robert the Bruce. There are a number of well maintained walks around the estate that you can enjoy also. Within a stone’s throw of the city you will find ancient forts, castle ruins and of course complete castles and manor houses. The restaurants here are proud to offer the very best in Scottish cuisine with ingredients sourced from the surrounding area. You will also find that there is a snow sports centre close to hand, which also offers a dry ski slope facility, and the Scottish mining museum and the wonderfully mysterious Rosslyn Chapel are not very far away.
Places to Visit
Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446 and stands today as the most highly decorated place of worship in the country. The outside of the chapel is wonderfully carved but venture inside and you will find that there is not a single stone which does not tell a story. From the famous apprentice pillar to the mysterious carvings of plants from the New World, which at the time of building had not yet been discovered, all adds to the mystery surrounding the place. There is little wonder that this chapel features so heavily in the book ‘The Da Vinci Code’. Tours are available that will relate the history and some of the mystery of the place as you explore within.
The city of Edinburgh is a must to visit, whether you chose to explore the castle from top to bottom, walk the Royal Mile or shop till you drop on Princes Street. Stirling Castle and the delights of the city are an hour’s drive away, as is the wonderful Highland Safari Park located on the Blair Drummond Estate.
Things to Do
Discover a part of the city if Edinburgh that many people overlook. Mysterious chambers and ancient passageways were once cut from the sandstone beneath the streets of the south side of Edinburgh. What the purpose of the chambers and passageways at Gilmerton served remains something of an archaeological mystery. They were discovered three hundred years ago and today their purpose remains unknown. See the tables and chairs that have been hewn from the rock and even a blacksmith’s forge and put together your own theories about what they were all for.
Head a little further than Edinburgh and explore the beaches that make up part of this stunning coastline. Or stay city bound and explore the bustling streets of Glasgow. The great thing about Penicuik is that it is ideally placed to allow you to both explore Scotland’s main cities and relax in the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Borders.
