Penicuik is east of the Pentland hills, somewhere in the middle of Midlothian. It is on the River North Esk and used to be known as Pennycook… which literally means “Hill of the Cuckoo” in the old tongue. Why? This is a riddle lost to time. What we do know is that the addition of the Pentland Hills nearby probably had more to do with the name that a nest-stealing bird did.
There is a Kirk in Penicuik named Glencorse Parish Kirk. Note the spelling of ‘course’. Penicuik dates back to before anyone thought to add in an extra ‘U’. The kirk is 17th century and there are references to ‘Penicok’ in letters from around the same time. So it’s a fairly old settlement.
Interesting things to have occurred near this area include Penicuik being used as a prison camp for POWs during the Napoleonic Wars. 309 prisoners died here in the three years it operated. The first ever yearly grand high curling tournament finale was held here. What a thing to be famous for… sheesh.
Penicuik is thought to have thrived in the early years by providing overnight taverns for travellers from Edinburgh to England. There are a number of ancient pubs here, some of which have some pretty famous former patrons. What else to mention? Oh yes… Clans in the area include the Livingstone’s, Clan Douglas, Clan Wallace, and The Campbells and Crawfords.
So if you were to spend any time in this area, what should you get up to? We took a look at the best things to do this far south of Edinburgh.
Penicuik Attractions
If you were spending any time in the area, here are some sights we think you should see.
Penicuik House
This is an 18th-century historic building with some beautiful walks. The Palladian mansion has been restored and is used as a hotel nowadays. You can visit to take walks, enjoy their restaurant, or peruse the property. There are plenty of old castles and ruined houses throughout the surrounding land for you to explore.
Many of Scotland’s old houses have fallen to complete disrepair, but this is such a nice area that the old houses have been snatched up. Dalhoustie Castle is another nearby location of similar merit. It is also worth the visit if you are in town.
Valleyfield Memorial
Maybe not the most exciting attraction in and around Penicuik is the Valleyfield Memorial. Now you will remember we told you French prisoners died in this area? They mostly died in a prison that used to stand where the Valleyfield housing estate now lies… so yes… some of the locals are living on some accursed ground.
You can visit and see if you see any ghosts if you like. Watch out for the Jerkies, angry haggis, and Nessie.
The Glencorse Old Kirk
The old church that was built here away back when still stands. In fact; it does better than just ‘standing’. It is a popular wedding venue, situated in the grounds of Glencorse House. This church dates back to around 1616 when the two communities of Penicuik and Pentland joined parishes. It was originally named for St. Catherine, who had a chapel in the area, but after the chapel was submerged in the local reservoir the Glencorse name stuck. The church was still in use up until 1885 for Sunday service; when it was deemed too small.
Golf Anyone
We keep saying it and it keeps proving true… If you pass through a town in Scotland and there are more than 10k people living there: there’s a golf club. Penicuik is no exception. It lies on the road to Peebles – another fascinating town in the region. Peebles marks the northern side of the Southern Uplands and has some fantastic geology as well as some great history. Go there after you 18 holes, perhaps?
You can’t come all the way out to this end of the country and bypass the chapel made famous by Dan Brown and his “Da Vinci Code” series. Rosslyn Chapel has ties to the Freemasons and the Knight’s Templar. Built in 1446, this building has some of the most intricately carved stonework in Scotland. It’s still a practising chapel to this day but has been in the care of a trust since 1995. They simultaneously stop it falling to bits and maintain its religious importance.
They also charge an entry fee so be warned. Totally worth it though.
Where to Eat, Drink or Party in Penicuik?
So if you are spending an afternoon here you will want to eat something. If catching a free-range Haggis isn’t to your liking, you can always try a restaurant like the locals do. If you are entertaining a posh date then go to Giovanni’s Italian. Haig’s Bar and Restaurant gets great reviews if you are looking for something more family orientated. At the end of the meal you can drink your heart’s content in the bar so that’s always a bonus.
For a night of drinking we would suggest Fishers Tryst. There is a Folk Club in the area too, if that’s more your thing? We didn’t know they still existed until right now. If you want to bring the house down, then we would recommend a trip into Edinburgh. Trains run all night in this direction (south) for all the people that want to leave Edinburgh in a hurry.
Other Notable Penicuik Attractions
So what else is there to do nearby? Try some of these on for size:
- Penicuik has its own leisure centre, complete with swimming pool and gym.
- There is a place called ‘the Leadburn Inn’ which has a very misleading name. It is an inn with a soft play area for the little ones. This is a popular thing to do in Penicuik with the kids.
- Go to the Leadburn Community Woodland and explore. There is actually a burn there… you will never guess what it is called.
So whether you are on your own, or whether you are entertaining your sprogs, there is always something to do in Penicuik!
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