Polton: Routes, History and Landscape

Polton combines historic buildings, an archaeologically dated site and several named routes. The routes differ in length and destination. When planning your trip, both the history of the place and the specific connections to Lasswade or the Roslin–Loanhead Foot/Cycle Path may therefore be relevant.

Historic Buildings and Local History

Polton Summerhouse is a two-storey summerhouse with a square floor plan, dating from the early 18th century. The floor plan describes the shape of the building; together with its two storeys and date, it gives a clear picture of its design. The Summerhouse is also Category B listed. Its architectural form and listing status offer two different points of interest if you are interested in Polton’s historic architecture.

De Quincey Cottage adds a personal connection to this architectural history: Thomas de Quincey and his family lived in the cottage from 1840 until his death in 1859. These dates place their time there in context and make the site interesting for its residents’ history, too. In Polton, a building from the early 18th century and a family history from a later period thus sit side by side, while addressing different historical questions.

Landscape and Archaeological Connections

Springfield Mill offers a different focus. This small, striking reserve lies deep in the valley of the River North Esk, on the site of a former paper mill. While the Summerhouse centres on the form of an individual building, Springfield Mill makes the site’s former use part of its story. The change from former mill site to reserve is a distinct feature of Polton’s landscape.

Maiden Castle was probably a site dating from the late Bronze Age or the Iron Age. The dating is explicitly tentative, leaving both periods as possibilities. A footpath from Polton leads there, with a distance of no more than one kilometre. Terrain and path conditions may vary, so it is advisable to check conditions before setting out. The short stated distance and the uncertain archaeological dating are two different considerations: one helps with route planning, while the other describes what is believed about the site’s history.

Mavisbank also offers a point of interest in the landscape. From Polton, there are views of Mavisbank, particularly to the south-east of the house. These views complement the buildings and routes with another perspective on the surrounding area.

Routes by Length and Destination

Route 8 is 962 m long and connects Polton with the Roslin–Loanhead Foot/Cycle Path. At 1,689 m, Route 7 is longer and connects Polton with Lasswade along the valley of the River North Esk. Route 11 is 2,181 m long and forms a central section of the Roslin–Loanhead Foot/Cycle Path; branch paths connect this section with Polton Village. Based on the stated lengths, Route 8 is the shortest of these three connections. They also have different destinations: Route 7 heads towards Lasswade, while Route 8 leads to the named foot and cycle path and Route 11 describes a section of that path.

The North Esk Way also includes a walking section from Loanhead or Polton to Lasswade. This describes a section of the North Esk Way; Route 7, meanwhile, is a 1,689 m connection from Polton to Lasswade along the valley. The similar direction of travel therefore does not mean these are the same route listing. It is advisable to check the route details for Routes 7, 8 and 11 again before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Gorebridge, North Middleton, Dalkeith, Penicuik, Loanhead, Rosewell, Bonnyrigg, Roslin.

For the broader travel overview: Midlothian.