| Birding in Roslin Glen |
| Roslin Glen is one of the most attractive woodlands in the Lothians. As part of the North Esk valley, it comprises mature woodland surrounding a fast-flowing, small river. It contains some of the most important areas of mature oakwood in the region. Roslin Glen and the surrounding countryside are host to a wide variety of birds, wildflowers and mammals. Key birds found in this area are jay, nuthatch, green woodpecker and kingfisher. Roslin Glen is worth a visit any time of the year but springtime is special because the wood is carpeted with bluebells and is alive with bird song. |
| Roslin Glen forms part of the North Esk Valley and is located approximately 8 miles south of Edinburgh. The source of the North Esk river is the North Esk Reservoir in the Pentland Hills. It flows through several Midlothian towns – Penicuik, Auchendinny, Roslin, Polton, Lasswade and Eskbank – and also through some beautiful Midlothian countryside before its confluence with the South Esk at Dalkeith Country Park. From there the Esk flows north to Musselburgh, another prime Lothian birding location. Rosslyn Castle and Rosslyn Chapel are of historic interest and well worth visiting. |
| For this local patch guide, Roslin Glen has been divided into several sections. Click on the zone areas shown on this link for details of what to look for: Zones in Roslin Glen The following map link will help you find your way around - click on the routes for access details and a description: Walks in Roslin Glen |
| Where is Roslin Glen ? |
| Interactive Birding and Route maps to help you navigate Roslin Glen |
| Getting There and Getting Around |
| By car: From the A720 (Edinburgh City Bypass) take the Straiton exit and follow signs to Roslin. To access from the south take the A7 to Bonnyrigg then the A6094 towards Howgate. There is a small car park at the turning into the B7003. By bus From Edinburgh Roslin is served by Lothian Buses 15/15A. Rosewell is served by Lothian buses 31 and 49. |
| Habitat |
| Roslin Glen comprises mixed woodland, with good numbers of mature oak, birch, and ancient Scots pine. In places the banks of the glen are steep, particularly in the section downriver of Roslin. Wild garlic and bluebells carpet the glen in springtime, and the area is rich in wildflowers. There are cliffs both at Hawthornden Castle and upriver from Roslin at Powdermills. Bounding the river valley itself are expanses of arable farmland and grassland. The Hewan Bog provides some marshy habitat between Roslin and the neighbouring village downriver, Polton. The river itself descends quickly, and there are many rapids as well as sections of slow water. The river loop by Rosslyn Castle forms a small gorge and the area bounded by this is open and scrubby. Gardener’s Brae is a south facing grassy / scrubby slope between the castle and the chapel. |
| Birds |
| The mature woodland of Roslin Glen hosts all of the common Scottish woodland birds such as tits, finches and thrushes. Great spotted woodpecker are very common, and green woodpecker are now quite often heard, if not seen, between Roslin and Polton at the wood margins. Jays have started to colonise the oak woodland and can be found in all areas but the Hawthornden, Hewan Bog / Wood and Maiden Castle sections are most favourable. Nuthatch were first noted to have bred in Roslin Glen in 2005 and several pairs now inhabit the glen in the woods adjacent to Rosebank and Hawthornden. The range is expanding annually. |
| Warblers are abundant, especially around Rosslyn Castle, Gardener’s Brae, and along the margins of the Penicuik-Dalkeith walkway and the Roslin-Polton walkway. Willow warbler, chiffchaff, whitethroat, goldcrest and blackcap are common and garden warbler are seen every year at Gardener’s Brae. Wood warbler have formerly been known to breed in Roslin Glen and still breed elsewhere in the North Esk Valley so it’s worth looking out for them in the spring. Spotted flycatchers may be seen along the wood margins; pied flycatchers were at one time semi-regular breeders in the Scottish Wildlife Trust section. Tree sparrows are seen regularly near the chapel and along the Roslin-Polton walkway. |
| On the river itself dipper are common, and kingfisher can sometimes be seen (they are seen regularly at Auchendinny, which can be reached via the Penicuik-Dalkeith walkway). Grey heron, grey wagtail, mallard, moorhen and occasionally goosander are also present. Raptors are usually visible at some point during a walk in the area. Buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk are often seen. Ravens, peregrine and goshawk are occasionally sighted. Tawny owls are common, and barn owls are occasionally seen hunting over the farmland bounding the glen. Around the margins of the woodland birds of open ground occur, such as swallows, house martins, yellowhammer, skylark and meadow pipit. |
| In winter look out for fieldfare and redwing, and occasionally waxwings. Siskins may be seen feeding on birches and conifers. |
| Local Links |
| Exploring Roslin Glen (article by Midlothian Council) Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve - Roslin Glen (information about the SWT section of the glen) Esk Valley Trust website (information about the Esk Valleys) |
| Roslin Glen can be accessed from several places: Roslin Park on the Main Street, Penicuik Road or Manse Road. There are three options for exploring from here: (i) walk along Chapel Loan to access the paths near Rosslyn Chapel and Castle; (ii) walk along Manse Road to access the Roslin-Polton Walkway - this provides more direct access to the Hewan Wood and Hewan Bog sections; (iii) walk north along Roslin Main Street until you are almost out of the village and join the path along the Kill Burn, a triburaty of the North Esk. Click here to download a pdf from Midlothian Council with a suggested walking route. Roslin Glen Country Park car park This is accessed via the B7003 from Roslin (the road is closed from the south [Rosewell] side). Paths run from here across the river to the castle / chapel areas, or you can walk a short distance back along the B7003 to the entrance to the Powdermills section of the glen. Click here to download a pdf from Midlothian Council with a map of this section. Penicuik-Dalkeith walkway . This can be accessed at either end by bicycle, and there is a small car park at the Rosewell end of the B7003. At present this has to be accessed via the A6094 Bonnyrigg-Howgate road as the B7003 itself is closed because of a landslip. Walking west towards Penicuik, several paths branch off this walkway into the woods and about a mile from the car park a steep set of steps leads down to the Powdermills section. Click here for details of this walkway. |
| Accessing Points to the Glen |
| Buzzard hunting at dusk, Powdermills section |
| Whitethroat singing, Penicuik-Dalkeith walkway |
Nuthatch at nest,
Rosebank
section near
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosebank
section near
Rosslyn Chapel
