Midlothian is a council area immediately south of Edinburgh. It includes Dalkeith, which houses the council headquarters, and towns such as Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Penicuik, Gorebridge, Newtongrange and Loanhead. The Pentland Hills form much of the western boundary and provide open ground for walking. Valleys carved by the River North Esk run through Roslin and Gorebridge. The Borders Railway stops at Gorebridge and Newtongrange, linking the district with Edinburgh. Land use combines farmland, former mining settlements and compact town centres.
Historic and industrial heritage sit side by side across the area. In Roslin the 15th-century chapel is noted for extensive stone carving, and Roslin Glen follows the North Esk through wooded gorge. The National Mining Museum Scotland occupies the former Lady Victoria Colliery at Newtongrange. Dalkeith Country Park and Vogrie Country Park offer riverside trails and estate buildings, while Gladhouse Reservoir near Penicuik provides water storage and long-distance walks.
