Old Cockpen Church Temple Walking Path

Walk

Route Details Old Cockpen Church to Tem- Start on the side road on the bend of the road be- round the right side of the house then left to its ple and Arniston tween Dalhousie Castle bridge and Buttlerfield front. Continue past the house then diagonally right industrial estate. Walk up the side road and towards a field and avenue between tall lime trees. through a gate (50 metres). Pass old Cockpen After the trees, a track descends right to the river. Distance: 9¼ miles / 15 km Church hidden in trees on left and along an old Continue downstream by your outward route. road.

Further on, the road has areas of old subsidence. Ancient Oak , Arniston Estate Ascent: 500/ 150m Beware the cracks and changes in level. Further on the track reaches a large expanse of open grassland, site of long demolished Prestonholm Time: 4 hours House and jute mill. Follow the track then faint path gradually up to the left until on high ground. Continue up between fence and wall to reach the Terrain – Open grassland • farm track, Povert Road. Turn right. At the public Estate vehicle track • Some road, turn right then down under a low bridge then marked paths • moderate ahead through gate into Gore Glen Woodland ascent • muddy in places Park.

In 50 metres, turn right over stone bridge. From Map: No 66 Edinburgh here, it is 3 miles to Temple following the river Key Points of South Esk. Walk through woodland following the Start point: Small side road on river, right over another bridge then gently right Interest bend of road (B704 ) between and up. Continue high above the river before de- Views across the Lothians then tranquil Dalhousie Castle and Buttler- scending to a large meadow. Continue upstream valley of Arniston estate field Industrial Estate. over a bridge, then on up river avoiding the vehicle Temple Church and it’s connections to the track steeply up to left. At a grass track T-junction, Knights Templar Gr: NT 327 634 turn right, back down towards the river. Arniston House — An imposing William For Sat Nav users: At a Y-fork cross small stone bridge (right) to follow Adam, Palladian style mansion house, completed in the river. After the high road bridge turn left up 1750 Lat: N 55.85912 steps. Turn right before additional smaller steps Long: W 03.07530 ahead. Continue down then up through conifer woodland eventually climbing to a wall and door opposite Temple church. Visit the church ceme- Public transport: No tery and its interpretation board (history of the area Introduction and the Knights Templar). Car Parking: Yes

Walk from near Dalhousie Castle passing old Cock- Return by the same route until the small stone Refreshments: No pen Church (founded c.1148) then up the secluded bridge and Y-fork. Turn right then in 50 metres valley of the South Esk and Arniston Estate to Tem- turn left uphill. At the top after a small wooden Route: Ian Brown ple. The return passes Arniston House with fine gate, turn right on mown grass path. At the centre views of Midlothian’s farming landscape. of the meadow turn left to Arniston House. Walk Arniston House Photo: Ian Brown