20 Attractions to Explore Near Dalkeith Country Park

Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World is the world's longest running butterfly house and one of Scotland's favourite tourist and educational attractions. Get inside into their world of butterflies, reptiles, bugs and beasties! Take a tour through their rainforest and get close to the animals during your visit.

The Lothianbridge Viaduct carries the Borders Railway, which opened in 2015, over the River South Esk near Newtongrange, Midlothian, Scotland. It was built by the Marquess of Lothian to extend the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway from Dalhousie Mains to his coal pits at Arniston. The present viaduct was opened in 1849 by the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway to carry the Waverley Line, running between Edinburgh and Carlisle. The viaduct was designed by John Miller.

The National Mining Museum Scotland was created in 1984, to preserve the physical surface remains of Lady Victoria Colliery at Newtongrange, Midlothian, Scotland. It tells the story of coal for Scotland through exhibitions and guided tours of the pithead. See hear and feel what life was like for the miners and their families with real insights from ex-miner tour guides.

This delightful 17th century hillside garden is awaiting your discovery. Tucked away within stone boundary walls you will find tall trees, fragrant flowers, songbirds and clear water. In the charming village of Inveresk, there is a heady mix of rare and familiar scents - a wonderful sensory experience.

Gilmerton Cove is a series of hand carved passageways and chambers that lie below ground to the south of Gilmerton crossroads. It offers visitors to Edinburgh the opportunity to walk hand-hewn chambers and passages and explore one of the most mysterious underworld places in the history of the city. These underground rooms and hallways were hand-carved from sandstone under the streets of a former mining town and current Edinburgh suburb of Gilmerton.

Newhailes House is a Palladian style country house which stands in 80 acres of parkland on the edge of the small town of Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland. Originally named Whitehills, it is a Category A listed building which is now occupied and maintained by the National Trust for Scotland. Visitors will see the remarkable library wing, imposing Italian marble fireplaces, gilded eagles over the drawing room windows, Chinese wallpaper and an impressive art collection.

Newhailes Estate stretches out over 80-acres and is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. At the heart of the estate is Newhailes House, one of the most impressive 17th-century Palladian villas in Scotland. The house is most notably linked with the influential Dalrymple family who acquired it in 1709 and continuously inhabited it for nearly 300 years.

Newhailes is one of the most impressive 17th century Palladian villas and beautiful estate in Scotland. It was home to the Dalrymple family for more than 300 years, and the Estate stretches out over 80-acres and has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1997.

Discover the long and remarkable history of the Honest Toun through the changing displays and exhibitions, and have fun with the activities for children and families. The Museum is operated by the volunteers of Musselburgh Museum and Heritage Group with support from East Lothian Council. It has a programme of changing displays and exhibitions, so there is always something new to see. There are also activities for children and families and we welcome group visits. Just get in touch - we would be

Musselburgh has a short beach, but when the tide is low, you can walk far out from the shoreline, which is quite thrilling, especially when the temperature is only 1 degree.

Musselburgh Racecourse is firmly established as one of the UK’s most stylish racecourses, offering award-winning facilities in a 5-star visitor attraction located only 6 miles from Edinburgh with excellent transport links and free parking. The course offers both flat racing and National Hunt meetings and is 2 km long. In the middle of the course is a nine-hole golf course, Musselburgh Links, dating from at least 1672. The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club was founded there in 1774.

Mavisbank House is Category A listed by Historic Scotland. The house was partially destroyed and left in ruin by a fire in 1973. It was designed by the architect William Adam constructed between 1723 and 1727. Unfortuneately the house neglected and the interiors were ruined by fire in 1973 but it is still an interesting sight for visitors to see. Parking is available in Loanhead.

Craigmillar Castle is one of the best preserved castles of its period in Scotland. Built at the beginning of the 14th century by the Preston family, it had an L-shaped tower, a wall with buildings inside, attractive gardens and a fish pond. It is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland. The central tower house, or keep, is surrounded by a 15th-century courtyard wall with "particularly fine" defensive features.

A vast green park situated west of Gorebridge, close to Robert Adams Wood. It represents a regenerated industrial landscape located a half-mile west of Gorebridge in Midlothian. The landscape was principally the result of coal-mining activity from the 19th century until the 1960s. There are free curricular based environmental education activities for schools and groups, led and organised by the Ranger Service.

Musselburgh Lagoons, at the mouth of the River Esk, were formed in 1964 by the South of Scotland Electricity Board. They constructed a large concrete sea wall encompassing four large lagoons which were used for the dumping of fly-ash from the nearby Cockenzie Power Station. As a result of this, large numbers of waders, gulls, terns and duck now use these lagoons as a high tide roost site, particularly the lagoon nearest to the river mouth.

More than hundred acres of woods and Victorian parkland including a 1876 Victorian mansion - part of which is open to the public. Facilities in the parkland include a miniature railway, 9-hole golf course, children's play area and four miles of walks. A good experience in the middle of nature and a great chance to explore the ancient beauty.

A majestic 16th centiry castle, which was once a substantial L-shaped tower house built by Michael Borthwick of Glengelt. The tower occupied a roughly triangular position, which was naturally defended by deeply worn water-courses. The remaining structure is a scheduled monument, which, provides evidence and has the potential to provide further evidence for the study of the defensive architecture and domestic life of the minor gentry in mid-sixteenth-century Scotland.

Prestongrange is a free, family friendly open-air museum on the site of a former colliery. For centuries Prestongrange was a place of intense industrial activity. A harbour, glass works, pottery, colliery and brickworks have all left their marks on the landscape. Monks from Newbattle Abbey first mined for coal here in the 12th century. From that a coal mining industry developed and the first shaft of Prestongrange's last mine was sunk in 1830. A beam engine, modified by Harvey and Company of Hoy

Portobello is a popular sandy beach in the Edinburgh suburb by the same name. Being close to the city, it draws many summer visitors who flock here to swim, play in the waves and sunbathe. One of the iconic location for a holiday and also you can spend some good time in the seabank.