Roslin Glen, Bilston Woods, Polton, River North Esk and Rosslyn Castle
Through an Area of Outstanding Beauty Steeped in History
Roslin Glen is not only an area of dramatic scenery, but a place also intimately entwined in much of Scotland's turbulent past. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Roslin Glen was a popular venue for picnics and Sunday afternoon strolls, attracting luminaries such as Scott, Wordsworth, Johnson, and Burns, all of whom extolled its virtues. Further into the past it was a place where noblemen built castles like Rosslyn Castle, armies mustered prior to battle, rebellious young men sought refuge from occupying English forces, and John Knox preached from a rocky pinnacle across the rippling waters of the River North Esk. This circular walk across the plateau above the glen to Bilston Woods, returning through Roslin Glen itself, includes many sites of great historic interest, including two castles, Wallace's Cave, and Rosslyn Chapel, beginning in the delightful village of Roslin (known to have existed as a flourishing market town for over a thousand years).
