| Mount Lothian / Cockmuir |
| Mount Lothian is an 800 acre stock farm near Howgate and Penicuik in Midlothian. Much of the land comprises rolling countryside wiith rough grazing, moorland and young plantation. A single track road runs south from the farm buildings towards Cockmuir and Spurlen's Rig, on which there is a large area of conifer wood. This is an especially productive site to visit during the winter months as it attracts large numbers of finches and thrushes. The area is open and quiet and the views south towards the Moorfoot Hills are spectacular. Occasionally you may see model aircraft in flight on occasion as East Fortune Aeromodellers have a small airfield on the land. The land is also used for horse riding and pony trekking and the Cockmuir Road forms part of one of the Tyne-Esk Trails. |
| This interactive map is best viewed in satellite image mode as most of the area is covered by high resolution satellite imagery. Key landmarks and zones are marked with annotation on the map. Birding Map of Mount Lothian / Cockmuir |
| Getting to Mount Lothian |
| There is no public transport to this location. The site is best visited by car or by bike. (The nearest village is Howgate, 2 miles away.The roads have fast traffic and no pavement, and aren't safe to walk along). From Penicuik follow the B6372 southeast towards Gorebridge. Go straight ahead at the crossroads with the A6094 and continue for 1 mile to the next junction at Mount Lothian Farm. (Keep an eye to your left as large flocks of pink footed geese sometimes feed on the fields in winter). Take the single track road right towards Cockmuir. From Dalkeith / Bonnyrigg follow the A6094 toward Howgate. A mile after passing Rosewell, Rosslynlee Trout Fishery is seen to the left and a minor road is signed to Mount Lothian. Follow this road until you come to a crossroads and go straight ahead onto the single track Cockmuir road. On the way up from Rosslynlee Fishery small finch flocks are often seen at the roadside. Ensure you pull well onto the verge as wide farm machinery and heavy forestry vehicles use the Cockmuir road. |
| Habitat |
| Mount Lothian and Cockmuir comprises upland habitat. Heading south towards Cockmuir from the B6372 there are fields on either side of the road which passes through a conifer belt. Beyond this is open moorland and rough pasture. The fields to the left are usually left unploughed during the winter and this land attracts winter finches. Small trees line the roadside including some rowans. The road crosses the Loch Burn at Cockmuir Bridge, and to the left is some young plantation, and beyond this the larger mature woodland at Spurlen's Rig. |
| Birds |
| During spring and summer skylark, meadow pipit, yellowhammer and stonechat are easy to see from the roadside. The area around the Loch Burn is especially good for stonechat. Kestrel hunt over the open ground and are often seen perching on the overhead wires. Buzzards soar on warm days and can sometimes be seen perched in the conifer belt. Peregrine are occasionally seen hunting lapwing, which perform their aerial display over the moor. Game birds including red grouse inhabit this area and Cockmuir may be a potential site for black grouse. In winter large flocks of finches including brambling and linnet fly between the fields and the roadside trees. These are best seen soon after sunrise as the birds disperse by midday. The sight of these birds swarming is quite breathtaking - see the video below. Sparrowhawk, and if you are very lucky, merlin,may intercept the flocks. Fieldfare and redwing may be seen by the roadside trees feeding on berries. Pink footed geese are often seen overhead on their way to and from Gladhouse Reservoir to the southeast. At night barn owl may be seen perched at the roadside on the approaches to Mount Lothian and on the Cockmuir Road. |
| Local Links |
| Mount Lothian Walk (walking / horseriding leaflet from Midlothian Council) |
| This video, left, shows a large flock of chaffinches and brambling swarming onto the roadside bushes and trees on the Cockmuir road. Move your pointer over the image and click play. If your broadband connection is slow it is best to pause the video until it is fully loaded, then it can be played smoothly. |
| Female kestrel hunting from power lines |
Female brambling on verge of Cockmuir Road
Winter redwing
| Loch Burn by Cockmuir Bridge |
Mount Lothian
and the
Cockmuir
Road. The
B6372 is the
road at the top
of the map.
Reproduced
from Ordnance
Survey map
data by
permission of
Ordnance
Survey, ©
Crown
copyright.
and the
Cockmuir
Road. The
B6372 is the
road at the top
of the map.
Reproduced
from Ordnance
Survey map
data by
permission of
Ordnance
Survey, ©
Crown
copyright.
