Rosewell to Thornton Farm

The Location

What's there

A walk through woods, by a stream, and along farm tracks.

How to get there

For Satnav, the nearest postcode is EH24 9DT. This is for Carnethie Street, which is just past the graveyard.
From the Edinburgh bypass, take the A7 turn off south, then after about 3 miles, turn right onto the B6932, signposted Peebles, Bonnyrigg. Follow this road round until it joins the B6934, then follow that road, which bypasses Rosewell village. At the far end of the bypass you will see a left turn for Rosewell, turn here and you will see a car park on your left for the cemetary. Park in here.

The Walk

A shortish walk of maybe 2 miles that is difficult in places. You can see a map of the route here.
Cross over the road from the car park and walk away from the village for a short distance until you see an opening in the hedge on your left. Go down this path to the woods, then keep straight on through the woods and over a footbridge that crosses a small stream. Just over this bridge, turn left down a short, narrow and muddy path over a ditch, then down to the stream bank. Follow the path down stream and after a couple of hundred yards the path climbs some steps up a steep bank. At the top of the bank, keep to the right and follow a path that runs along a narrow wood between 2 fields. This path runs for some distance, and ends at Thornton Farm.

The end of the path is uncertain. It brings you out at the corner of a small horse training field. I've always walked round the edge of the field anti-clockwise and exited to the roadway on the diagonally opposite corner, without any challenge or complaint (and you always have the Scotland Right to Roam act on your side if you did get challenged). When you reach the farm road, turn left and walk right past the farm to a 'T' junction, where you turn left again. After about 50 yards, take a right hand turn and follow this road down to the bottom of the hill, where you turn left (these roads are off the beaten track and a very quiet). This road way goes up a short way, then bends round a house. At the point where the road bends to the right, you will see a pathway heading left into the trees, take this pathway.
The pathway winds through the trees, then crosses a road and goes back into the trees again. Here you will see a small open hut that is used for an outside classroom by the local primary school, complete with separate organic toilet block. After another short distance you reach the top of the steps again and can retrace your steps back to your car.