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COUSLAND WALKS

Smeaton Loop A 5 mile walk mainly on roads and pavements with short sections

on tracks.

The route starts and finishes at Cousland Village Hall and

rambles through the relics of the industrial past of the area and

shows their conversion into useful modern facilities. The route is

generally through open landscape with many views of

Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, the Fife coast and beyond. A short

sector is woodland track

Cousland

The village of Cousland has a long and varied history

documented as far back as 1110 when William St. Clair

became first Baron Cousland. In the 1690s the Dalrymples

of Oxenfoord & Stair took possession of the lands of

Cousland. The origins of a new life for Cousland date from

this period with the construction of a model village,blacksmiths, windmill, pottery and walled garden. To find

out more about the history of Cousland and village life

today please visit www.cousland.net  or come back for a

history tour of the village and smiddy.

COUSLAND WALKS

Queen Mary’s Mount

 A 5 mile walk on roads, pavements and woodland with tracks.

The route starts and finishes in Cousland and features

landmarks related to the confrontation at Carberry where Mary

Queen of Scots surrendered to the Confederate Scottish Lords.

The route follows tracks, roads and pavements.

Mary, Queen of Scots at Carberry

Following the murder on 10th  February 1567 of her second

husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Mary married JamesHepburn, Earl of Bothwell on 15

th  May of the same year at

Holyrood Abbey. Originally Mary believed that many noblessupported her marriage, but things soon turned sour between thenewly elevated Bothwell and his old peers, and the marriage wasdeeply unpopular with the people who were shocked that Maryshould marry the man accused of murdering her husband.Twenty-six Scottish peers, known as the Confederate Lords,turned against Mary and Bothwell, raising an army against them.Mary and Bothwell confronted the lords at Carberry Hill on 15

th 

June 1567, but there was no battle as Mary's forces dwindledaway through desertion during negotiations. Bothwell abandonedher and was given safe passage from the field, and theConfederate Lords took Mary to Edinburgh, where crowds ofspectators denounced her as an adulteress and murderer. Thiswas the start of a series of tragic events which concluded withher execution in 1587 on the instruction of her cousin QueenElizabeth of England.

For further information see www.cousland.net 

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Circular route on roads and tracksDistance approx. 5 milesTime approx 2.5 hours

Descent/ ascent 350 feetParking at Cousland Village Hall

Bus Service Edinburgh Coach Lines Service 328www.service328.co.uk

Begin at Cousland Village Hall (formerly the Cousland Miner’s

Institute) and walk down the road past the former mine

manager’s cottages on the left hand side. Before the bend in the

road you pass the remains of old lime kilns and the railway

bridge which carried the lime to the kiln. The site of the old works

has been redeveloped as an equestrian centre. To the left of the

traffic lights the remains of a well and watering trough are visible.

 As you join the A6124 the legendary 'Cousland Harbour' is on

the other side of the road – a low lying area prone to flooding.

Follow the pavement alongside the Bellyford Burn to another set

of traffic lights at Crossgatehall. The bridge carries the road over

the Monktonhall, Ormiston & Macmerry Railway Branch line. The

Old Smeaton School sits on the high ground to the left. Cross the

road and follow the pavement alongside the Smeaton Bing,

which stockpiled the spoil from the Dalkeith Colliery and is being

redeveloped as a recycling centre. In due course a cycle path willbe incorporated along this section of the route. Turn right on to

the minor road at the cottages, down the hill through Smeaton

Shaw farm and turn left to join the marked footpath to Dalkeith

which follows the line of the old Ormiston Railway Branch.

Circular route on roads and tracksDistance approx. 5 miles

Time approx. 2.5 to 3 hoursDescent/ ascent 300 feetParking on Hadfast Road

Bus Service Edinburgh Coach Lines Service 328www.service328.co.uk

Begin at the ruins of Cousland 'Castle' (the high stone wall at thefoot of Southfield Road) and walk about 50 yards up the road.You are standing where the Confederate Lords and their

followers assembled on 15

th

 June 1567. Turn round and lookover the valley to Carberry Hill about ¾ mile away where MaryQueen of Scots and her followers gathered. Note that Maryoccupied the high ground – a crucial factor in 16

th century

battles. Retrace your steps and turn left along Hadfast Road toCousland Village Hall (formerly the Cousland Miner’s Institute),turn right and walk down the road past the former minemanager’s cottages on the left hand side. Before the bend in theroad you pass the remains of old lime kilns and the railwaybridge which carried the lime to the kiln. The site of the old workshas been redeveloped as an equestrian centre. To the left of thetraffic lights the remains of a well and watering trough are visible. As you join the A6124 the legendary 'Cousland Harbour' is onthe other side of the road – a low lying area prone to flooding.Follow the pavement alongside the Bellyford Burn to thesignposted Pencaitland Railway Walk and turn right. Follow theWalk for about ¼ mile to a gate on the left hand side and takethe fieldside track leading to the B6414 road. Turn right andfollow the road for about 250 yards. Take particular care on thissection as there is no pavement and it is a busy road. Take timeto admire the view over the valley to Cousland.

Follow the footpath under the Dalkeith Bypass passing throughthe Dalkeith Community Schools Campus which opened in 2003.

Cross the Cousland Road and follow the path through the new

housing development (the route at this point is subject to change

as the development progresses) up the hill to join the track

through the wooded area. There is an area of mining subsidence

which has been fenced off. Keep to the track to the right of this

fence and follow the woodland path heading east. The track joins

the Dalkeith – Elphinstone Road at Langside Head. Turn right

and over the bridge across the Dalkeith by-pass. After the bridge

turn right on the minor signposted Cousland and follow this back

to the Village Hall.

Look out for a narrow opening in the wall and thecommemorative plaque on the on the north side of the road.Pass through the opening and follow the woodland track to thememorial stone at Queen Mary’s Mount. The woodland ismanaged by Buccleuch Estates who have provided information

boards explaining the significance of Carberry in Queen Mary’slife. Pause at these and consider the consequences to Scottishand British history of the events which took place here in 1567.Follow the main track downhill past a magnificent cedar avenueto the Carberry Tower stables and turn left past Carberry Tower.The Tower now operates as a hotel. Please respect the propertyas you pass through the grounds particularly if a reception istaking place. Turn right at the Private Garden sign and pass theformer curling ponds. Rejoin the main track and turn right. Afterabout 200 yards turn right and follow the track to Inwood

Gardens (open Thursday 1st May through to Saturday 30th

 August Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 2-5pm) www.inwoodgarden.com 

Turn left on the A6124 to the traffic lights. Turn right and left at

the lights and follow the outward route back to Cousland.

 A Community café is held in Cousland Village Hall from 10.30 to

12.30 on the first Saturday of every month.