Bonnyrigg- the Five Minute Tour

Image: SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com

What’s In A Name

Bonnyrigg from Bonny, meaning beautiful, and Rigg, which is thought to be a shortened version of ‘Brigg’ – which just means ‘bridge’. So this town grew up around a beautiful bridge that someone once loved very much. Not much is known about the history before 1750, when the town first appeared in General Roy’s maps.

You may not know about General Roy. You can still visit his monument in Carluke, in the Clyde Valley. Sir General William Roy was the first ever man to map the Highlands of Scotland. He painstakingly set out to record every hill and valley. Even with the equipment, we have nowadays this would be nigh on impossible. He did it with the most rudimentary tools… good on him. But back to Bonnyrigg.

The area was a village that didn’t stop expanding until multiple towns joined into one. Bonnyrigg did well during the textile era and thrived by making carpets. In the ’60s the government invested around £1.5 million in the town centre to make it more environmentally friendly. To this day, it remains a pretty place… always living up to its name…

We don’t know what bridge they mean, though.

So if you were spending time in this little Midlothian gem, what should you go and see? We looked at the best bits of Bonnyrigg to save you some time.

The Best Bits of Bonnyrigg

So if you had to spend some time in Bonnyrigg, what should you get up to? Here are our top sights to see in Bonnyrigg.

Falconry!!

You read that right – in Bonnyrigg, you can learn falconry! Edinburgh Falconry and Fishing are based here. They are an outdoor organisation that take you on all sorts of mini-adventures in the local moors and waterways. You can go hunt some trout, learn how to recall a falcon, go hunting for grouse – humanely, of course.

If you happen to be looking for something a little different to do in Bonnyrigg give these guys a call. You are sure to learn something but you may get wet.

National Mining Museum of Scotland

Scotland has a vast mining history. From quarrying out the sought after red sandstone of the Clyde Valley to Driving Lead from the rocks out at Leadhills – we have mined it all. There’s gold in them there hills, as the saying goes. If you want to find gold you want the Lead Mining Museum, which is miles south in Wanlockhead. If you want to learn about the lives of miners and the iron and coal industry in Scotland? You do it at Bonnyrigg.

First of all the two museums are both charities, please give generously to either. This location makes for a cheap day out, as well as being an educational visit for the little ones. They will get to see some of the giant drills and learn a little horrible history regarding what has gone on below their feet in the past. It’s delightful.

Visit Roslyn Chapel

Now – it may be a couple of miles outside of Bonnyrigg but this is well worth the effort. You remember ‘back in the day’ when Dan Brown released The Da Vinci Code? One of the fabled locations in the book was Roslyn Chapel. Famously a Masonic Chapel and thought to be related to the Holy Grail itself; Roslyn Chapel is an architectural marvel which is just as perfect as the film makes out.

The walls, ceiling and floor of the chapel are al carved in intricate works. The outside of the building is akin to something found only in Rome itself… the spiralling towers make the Vatican City green with envy. Go and see it, you may not get another chance.

See Dalhousie Castle

Dalhousie Castle was once a proud manor house, built in the 13th century. Nowadays it is a luxury hotel where you can book a stay. We are not suggesting you do so (although we are sure it is lovely) but we are suggesting you get a glimpse of this fine (700 year old) building while you are in town.

This castle is the former seat of the Ramsay clan. Oliver Cromwell and Queen Victoria are named as some of the most famous guests. Even if you cannot afford a stay here we do suggest that you book a meal. Their downstairs dungeon restaurant is stylish and quirky. We love it.

Go To Butterfly World!

We aren’t sure if we have mentioned Butterfly World yet in any of our blogs… but it is one of the finest attractions to see on the outskirts of Edinburgh. This fantastic conservationist building provides homes for thousands of butterfly species, helping to conserve and protect them for future generations. Again, it isn’t qu8ite in the heart of Bonnyrigg, but it is definitely worth the trip if you can manage.

Technically Butterfly and Insect World, this educational ‘theme park’ was set up to help us learn about, and protect, the species that make the UK so special. You can learn more about it through the Environmental Scotland website – but we do suggest you go along and see for yourself. In summer when all the species have hatched it is astounding.

Other Notable Bonnyrigg Attractions

Football Crazy?

Bonnyrigg Rose made it to the 4th Round of the Scottish Cup in 2017 as an SJFA team!

Well if you are and the season is in swing then pop down to New Dundas Park where Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic play their home games. They are now a senior club and at the time of writing (2019-20) and play in the Lowland League which is only a step away from the Scottish League – still a long way from playing the old Firm but moving in the right direction. The ground can hold 2200 fans so getting a ticket shouldn’t be a problem unless of course they are playing in the Scottish Cup and emulating their tremendous run of 2016-17. Here they reached the 4th round proper, quite an achievement! This feat was all the more remarkable as they were a Scottish Junior FA (SJFA) team at the time. On a more serious note, they have a social club too, so you can grab a drink after the match.

Anything Else To Do In Bonyrigg?

There are a few other things to do in town that you should check out, particularly if you are planning on staying a little longer. Some of these include:

• Broomieknowe Golf Club – all towns in Scotland have a golf club in the vicinity. Check it out if you like the game.
• Visit Vogrie Country Park in nearby Gorebridge for a picnic or a good, old-fashioned explore.
• Take a trip to Penicuik House and have the tour, then enjoy their café.

Midlothian is a really populous area too, so you should find plenty of shops, places to eat, and bars in Bonnyrigg.

Still got some Time?

If you find you are still at a loose end then have no fear. You will find everything you ever needed to know to get through life over at Five Minutes Spare HQ. Stop by and learn a new skill, learn about a new town, or try out a new hobby. We’re not biased. We just want you to be entertained.