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 Edinburgh at dusk
Introduction
Lothian is a traditional region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills. It was one of the earliest part of Scotland to be settled by the Anglo-Saxons when they established the Kingdom of Bernicia in the 5th century.
The region was named after the legendary British King Lot, who is said to have been King Arthur's brother-in-law. In Roman and post-Roman times, Lothian was inhabited by Cumbric speakers, a Brythonic language closely related to Welsh.
With a present population of approximately 780,000 inhabitants, Lothian is Scotland's second most populous region after Strathclyde.
Attractions
| Edinburgh ※ |
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 Edinburgh, perched atop extinct volcanoes, is home to the iconic Edinburgh Castle which houses the Honours of Scotland—the oldest crown jewels in the UK. The city's Royal Mile stretches from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, featuring hidden closes, historic landmarks, and vibrant street performers. Beyond its architectural splendour, Edinburgh boasts the world's largest monument to a writer (the Scott Monument), hosts numerous international festivals throughout the year, and is a UNESCO City of Literature. The city centre is divided into the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, whilst Arthur's Seat offers dramatic skyline views. The local food scene ranges from traditional Scottish fare to Michelin-starred restaurants, particularly in the trendy Leith neighbourhood, where visitors can sample haggis (including vegan versions) alongside world-class seafood. The city is also home to one of the UK's largest zoos, housing over 2,500 animals, and features unique attractions like the Chocolatarium for sweet-toothed visitors. |
| Hopetoun House |
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 Hopetoun House, a magnificent stately home built in 1707 and later extended by William Adam in 1721, has been home to the Hope family for over three centuries. The house features virtually unchanged Georgian interiors adorned with period furniture, paintings, tapestries and clocks, whilst its 150 acres of parkland harbour exotic trees and wildlife such as deer. The estate gained recent fame as a filming location for the Outlander television series, with Midhope Castle on the grounds serving as the fictional Lallybroch. Beyond its architectural splendour, the estate operates a mixed farming system with Aberdeen Angus cattle and sheep, and its Farm Shop, awarded 5 stars by VisitScotland, showcases local produce including estate-reared meat and game. Throughout the year, the house hosts various events from piano recitals to antique fairs and ceilidhs, whilst visitors can explore the house through guided tours or enjoy scenic walks along nature trails. |
| Dirleton Castle & Garden |
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 This 13th-century fortress, perched on a rocky outcrop, served three noble families - the de Vauxs, Haliburtons and Ruthvens - before being damaged during Cromwell's 1650 siege. The castle ruins feature impressive medieval architecture, including a massive drum tower, storage vaults, and a grim pit prison. The surrounding gardens boast the world's longest herbaceous border (215 metres), authenticated by the Guinness Book of Records. The grounds include a rare ginkgo tree, which belongs to a species unchanged since dinosaur times, and a well-preserved 16th-century beehive-shaped doocot housing 1,000 nesting boxes for pigeons that once served as a vital food source. Just a mile away lies Yellowcraig beach, overlooking Fidra Island, which inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Visitors can enjoy local hospitality at The Open Arms Hotel or the Castle Inn in the village. |
| Lennoxlove House |
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This 14th-century fortified tower house, now home to the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, houses one of Britain's finest art collections, featuring works by van Dyck, Lely, Raeburn, and Kneller. The estate holds fascinating historical artefacts, including Mary Queen of Scots' silver jewellery box and Rudolf Hess's compass from his 1941 flight to Scotland. Tours are available Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoons at 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500, costing £10 for adults whilst children under 16 enter free. The property, formerly known as Lethington, gained its current name when Frances Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (who modelled for the Britannia figure on British coinage) stipulated in her will that it be called 'Lennox's Love to Blantyre'. The grounds feature rare White Park Cattle, whilst the house itself blends 14th-century architecture with 18th-century Palladian and Victorian elements. Wheelchair access is available to most areas except the chapel, and the house includes a lift to the first floor. |
| House Of The Binns |
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Built in 1612 by Thomas Dalyell, a wealthy Edinburgh merchant, the House of the Binns features magnificent plaster ceilings commissioned for King Charles I's visit in 1633. The house harbours fascinating tales of General Tam Dalyell, who founded the Royal Scots Greys and allegedly conversed with the devil, with his thumbscrews still on display. Set in 260 acres of parkland overlooking the River Forth, visitors can explore ten rooms through guided tours, walk woodland trails to the 1826 Binns Tower for panoramic views, and spot unique features like Sergeant's Pond (where cavalry horses once drank), a 14th-century bakehouse oven, and a secret underground tunnel. The estate is home to a peafowl colony of about 20 birds, and the grounds offer excellent views of Blackness Castle, nicknamed 'the ship that will never sink'. |
| Newhailes House & Gardens |
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This 17th-century Palladian villa, once home to the influential Dalrymple family for nearly 300 years, features exquisite rococo interiors, Italian marble fireplaces, and a Chinese sitting room. The 86-acre estate encompasses woodland walks, an 18th-century tea house, a mysterious shell grotto, and the Ladies' Walk - an elevated promenade designed to lift both body and mind. Children aged 3-12 can explore Weehailes, a castle-themed adventure playground, whilst adults can marvel at the estate's fine art collection or visit the resident potter's studio, where handcrafted pottery is available for purchase at weekends. The grounds include apiaries and community allotments, and visitors can enjoy refreshments at the Stables Café or The Dairy ice cream parlour. The house, which played a prominent role in the Scottish Enlightenment, once housed one of Scotland's most impressive private libraries. |
| Rosslyn Chapel |
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Founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, Rosslyn Chapel is a remarkable architectural masterpiece situated just 7 miles from Edinburgh's city centre. Every surface of this collegiate church features intricate stone carvings, including mysterious 'Green Men' faces, angels playing bagpipes, and the famous Apprentice Pillar. The chapel sits atop Roslin Glen, a protected nature reserve with towering trees and twisted rock faces, offering visitors the chance to explore the nearby ruins of Rosslyn Castle. The site gained worldwide fame through Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code', though the Star of David featured in the film adaptation was merely a prop that left a visible mark on the wall. Notably, the chapel houses botanical carvings that were once thought to represent pre-Columbian American plants like maize and aloe, though experts have since determined these to be stylised representations of European flora. Queen Victoria played a crucial role in the chapel's preservation when, after finding it in disarray, she ordered its restoration in the 19th century. |
Other attractions
 Inveresk
Linlithgow Palace (ruins)
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England Guide
Ireland Guide
Wales Guide
Edinburgh, perched atop extinct volcanoes, is home to the iconic Edinburgh Castle which houses the Honours of Scotland—the oldest crown jewels in the UK. The city's Royal Mile stretches from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, featuring hidden closes, historic landmarks, and vibrant street performers. Beyond its architectural splendour, Edinburgh boasts the world's largest monument to a writer (the Scott Monument), hosts numerous international festivals throughout the year, and is a UNESCO City of Literature. The city centre is divided into the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, whilst Arthur's Seat offers dramatic skyline views. The local food scene ranges from traditional Scottish fare to Michelin-starred restaurants, particularly in the trendy Leith neighbourhood, where visitors can sample haggis (including vegan versions) alongside world-class seafood. The city is also home to one of the UK's largest zoos, housing over 2,500 animals, and features unique attractions like the Chocolatarium for sweet-toothed visitors.
Hopetoun House, a magnificent stately home built in 1707 and later extended by William Adam in 1721, has been home to the Hope family for over three centuries. The house features virtually unchanged Georgian interiors adorned with period furniture, paintings, tapestries and clocks, whilst its 150 acres of parkland harbour exotic trees and wildlife such as deer. The estate gained recent fame as a filming location for the Outlander television series, with Midhope Castle on the grounds serving as the fictional Lallybroch. Beyond its architectural splendour, the estate operates a mixed farming system with Aberdeen Angus cattle and sheep, and its Farm Shop, awarded 5 stars by VisitScotland, showcases local produce including estate-reared meat and game. Throughout the year, the house hosts various events from piano recitals to antique fairs and ceilidhs, whilst visitors can explore the house through guided tours or enjoy scenic walks along nature trails.
This 13th-century fortress, perched on a rocky outcrop, served three noble families - the de Vauxs, Haliburtons and Ruthvens - before being damaged during Cromwell's 1650 siege. The castle ruins feature impressive medieval architecture, including a massive drum tower, storage vaults, and a grim pit prison. The surrounding gardens boast the world's longest herbaceous border (215 metres), authenticated by the Guinness Book of Records. The grounds include a rare ginkgo tree, which belongs to a species unchanged since dinosaur times, and a well-preserved 16th-century beehive-shaped doocot housing 1,000 nesting boxes for pigeons that once served as a vital food source. Just a mile away lies Yellowcraig beach, overlooking Fidra Island, which inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Visitors can enjoy local hospitality at The Open Arms Hotel or the Castle Inn in the village.
Inveresk