There are countless things to do near Gorton House and Cottages. Edinburgh’s famous Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle are only 20 minutes drive away and the city provides all the attractions expected from Scotland’s capital. Yet within 5 miles of the rural setting of these holiday cottages are the sporting facilities of 8 golf courses, river and loch fishing, pony trekking, a dry-ski slope, and 3 leisure centres with swimming pools. A little further and you have stunning white sand beaches, wake boarding, high rope courses, surfing, mountain biking, indoor rock climbing, trampolining, and lots more.
Roslin Glen is literally on our doorstep. The Penicuik to Dalkeith walk/cycle track passes the gates of Gorton House, while the Pentland Hills Regional Park provides the backdrop and is readily accessible.
The adjacent village of Rosewell has shops and pubs, as do the nearby communities of Bonnyrigg and Penicuik.
We have made a list of our local favourites below, but If you need more inspiration try Visit Midlothian and Visit Scotland.
If you need help with any recommendations don’t hesitate to ask us.
*Timings are by car*
Food and Drink
- The Papermill (10 Mins)
- The Sun Inn (10 Mins)
- The Secret Herb Garden (10 Mins)
- Gigi’s Italian (5 mins)
- Beetroot Bar and Grill (5 Mins)
- Cibo Italian Restaurant (5Mins)
- The Original Rosslyn Inn (5 Mins)
Activities
- Mountain Biking – Alpine Bikes Glentress (30 Mins)
- High Ropes – Go Ape Glentress (30 Mins)
- Hill Walking – Pentland Hills (10 Mins)
- Skiing – Midlothian Snowsports Centre (15 Mins)
- Hot Air Balloon – Alba Ballooning (15 Mins)
- Trampoline Park – Ryze Edinburgh (10 Mins)
- Falconry and Fishing – Edindburgh Falconry and Fishing (10 Mins)
- Horse Riding – Lasswade Stables (5 Mins) and Seacliff Stables (45 Mins)
- Rock Climbing – Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (20 Mins) and Alien Rock (30 Mins)
- Go Karting – Xtreme Karting (20 Mins)
- Wakeboarding and more – Fox Lake Adventures (40 Mins)
- Surfing – Coast to Coast (40 Mins) and St. Vedas (60 Mins)
- Swim and Gym – Lasswade Centre (10 Mins)
Kids
- Butterfly and Insect World (10 Mins)
- Dalkeith Country Park (10 Mins)
- Edinburgh Zoo (30 Mins)
- Jupiter Artland (30 Mins)
- East Links Family Park (40 Mins)
History
- Rosslyn Chapel (5 Mins)
- Penicuik House (10 Mins)
- Crichton Castle (10 Mins)
- Tantallon Castle (40 Mins)
- National Mining Museum (5 Mins)
- Rabbie’s Bus Tours – (30 Mins)
- Mercat Ghost Tours – (30 Mins)
- Historic Scotland
Golf
- Melville – Range + 9 Holes (5 Mins)
- Kings-acre – Range + 18 Holes (5 Mins)
- Newbattle – 18 Holes (10 Mins)
- Broomieknowe – 18 Holes (15 Mins)
- Glencorse – 18 Holes (15 Mins)
- Lothianburn – 18 Holes (15 Mins)
- Swanston – 18 Holes (15 Mins)
- West Linton – 18 Holes (20 Mins)
- Peebles – 18 Holes (25 Mins)
- Whitehill House – 9 Holes (3 Mins)
- Vogrie Country Park – 9 Holes (15 Mins)