Dr Mackay's Wood

Wood, Forest in Midlothian

Scotland

Dr Mackay's Wood

Houses with a footbridge The bridge is across the Union Canal. — Houses with a footbridge Credit: James Allan

Dr Mackay's Wood is a forested area located in Midlothian, Scotland. Spanning over several acres, this woodland is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The wood is named after Dr Mackay, a local figure who played a significant role in its preservation and development.

The wood features a diverse range of tree species, including oak, beech, and birch, which create a rich and vibrant ecosystem. It is home to various wildlife, such as red squirrels, deer, and numerous bird species. The wood's natural beauty and tranquility attract birdwatchers, who often spot notable species like woodpeckers and owls.

There are multiple walking trails that wind through the wood, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in its serene surroundings. The trails are well-maintained and suitable for all fitness levels, making them accessible to individuals of all ages. Along the paths, there are informative signposts that provide interesting insights into the local flora and fauna, enhancing the educational aspect of the experience.

Dr Mackay's Wood is also a cherished spot for picnickers and families, with designated areas equipped with benches and tables. Its peaceful ambiance and picturesque scenery make it an ideal place for relaxation and unwinding amidst nature.

The wood is open to the public year-round, and there are no entry fees or permits required. Visitors are encouraged to follow the guidelines for responsible outdoor recreation, such as taking their litter with them and respecting the natural habitat.

In conclusion, Dr Mackay's Wood in Midlothian is a captivating forested area that offers a diverse range of flora and fauna, well-maintained walking trails, and a peaceful atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.

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Dr Mackay's Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.906021/-3.2775385 or Grid Reference NT2068. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Houses with a footbridge

The bridge is across the Union Canal.

James Allan

A720 City Centre Bypass by the emergency layby

Peter Bond

Footbridge on the Water of Leith

kim traynor

House by the Water of Leith

From the location and the weir upstream, this is probably a former mill, downstream from East Mills Bridge.

Woodhall Mains

Woodhall Mains

Bryce Road, Currie

Footway to Nether Currie Road

Barbara Carr

Juniper Avenue

Residential street in Juniper Green.

Barbara Carr

Wester Hailes Odeon

An entertainment facility in Edinburgh's Wester Hailes area. Murrayburn House accommodates City Council offices.

Mary and Angus Hogg

Juniper Green Church

An impressive building, located on the A70 route in suburban Edinburgh.

Mary and Angus Hogg

Kinleith Arms

Located on the Lanark Road in Edinburgh's Juniper Green suburb, beside a branch of the Iceland food store chain.

Mary and Angus Hogg

Wester Hailes railway station, Edinburgh

Opened in 1987 by British Rail on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line via Shotts. View north east towards Kingsknowe and Edinburgh.

Nigel Thompson

Wester Hailes Road

Distribution road beside the new health centre.

Richard Webb

Railway bridge over the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720)

Looking north west.

JThomas

Warklaw Hill

Turned into Torphin Road to park before using the right of way to gain the sheep pasture to the west of the quarry. No walls or fences were climbed to bag this TUMP. Name: Warklaw Hill Hill number: 14149 Height: 278m / 912ft Parent (Ma/M): 1816 Allermuir Hill Section: 28A: Firth of Forth to the River Tweed County/UA: Edinburgh (UA) Class: Tump (200-299m) Grid ref: NT 19856 67356 Summit feature: no feature: ground SW of mast Drop: 44m Col: 234m

Rude Health

View towards Warklaw Hill

The summit of this 278 metre hill is just to the right of the mobile phone mast in the centre of the picture, and the hill itself is situated at the NorthWestern edge of the Pentland Hills. According to the best available online source, the hill gets its name from the iron age fort mounds on the South side of the nearby Clubbiedean Reservoir. Apparently 'wark' is a Scots spelling of work, which in this case signifies a man-made structure - earthworks in this instance. It is a plausible theory, but still feels a bit tenuous to me. Somewhere beneath the patches of gorse ahead, remains of platforms used for decoy fires during the Second World War were fairly recently found. I have no idea if traces still remain as I only read about this on my return. They were officially called Starfish Decoy Sites (nobody seems too sure why) and there were over 200 of them across Britain. They were quite elaborate affairs by the sound of it, and their purpose was to trick the Luftwaffe into thinking that they were bombing the town or city nearby. Once there had been an actual hit on a place, these sites would spring into action, starting fires and activating lights and flares to mimic the nearby burning settlement for those looking from above. They had to be based within four miles of the town or city, and be a mile away from any houses, for obvious reasons! Similar tactics were used near shipyards, munitions factories and the likes.

Ian Dodds

Kinleith Mill Weir

This impressive weir controlled the water flow to Kinleith Paper Mill. The mill didn't actually stop producing until well into the 1960s, but it is unlikely that by then it was wholly or even partly reliant on water power. The mill started paper production in the 1790s but there was an older waulkmill on the same spot for about a hundred years previously. Whether the same buildings and water inflows were used is not clear. A waulkmill used the millstones to clean cloth in a fairly complicated system. Previously 'walkers' or 'fullers' used to trample the cloth under their bare feet in a container full of a rather disgusting sounding solution to do this, giving rise to the odd name for this type of mill. Paper-making was obviously a more profitable enterprise though, no doubt due to nearby Edinburgh being something of a seat of learning at this time, giving rise to numerous publications.

Ian Dodds

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Dr Mackay's Wood is located at Grid Ref: NT2068 (Lat: 55.906021, Lng: -3.2775385)

Unitary Authority: City of Edinburgh

Police Authority: Edinburgh