Near Edinburgh Is A Charming Former Mining Town With Scenic Trails, Shopping, And Fascinating History

Loanhead is a town located in Midlothian, Scotland, a few miles south of Edinburgh. It's only a half mile from the bypass that loops the southern end of the Scottish capital, and its western edge is a sprawl of business parks home to Ikea Edinburgh, Costco, an Asda superstore, and more. With the mega stores and retail parks, it'd be easy to pop in and out without spending time in Loanhead proper. But a short hop from those globally renowned brands, there's a town steeped in history and charm.

The first coal mining projects in Loanhead started back in the 1680s. Different shafts were burrowed deep into the earth throughout the 1800s, employing hundreds of men. The industry slowly declined after WWII, and the last nearby mine closed in 1989. These days, Loanhead is a quiet town of just under 7,000 residents. Throughout the community, monuments honor its mining history, like the Coghorn Sculpture, a tribute to the miners who lost their lives, or the Man, Boy and Horse statue, which serves as a poignant reminder of the youth who toiled in the dark coal shafts.

The proximity to Edinburgh (45 minutes by bus) means Loanhead could easily be a little day trip to escape the city. Wander its narrow streets, grab a quality meal at a local restaurant, check out the monuments, and then post up for a cold pint at a pub before returning to Edinburgh. Hiking routes branching out of the village also offer the opportunity to get active, including a jaunt to the famous Rosslyn Chapel. You can come for Ikea, just be sure to stay a bit to bask in the history and peaceful rural vibes.

The gigantic stores with their endless aisles and large parking lots are one reason people come to Loanhead. As mentioned, the Edinburgh Costco and IKEA are on the village's western edge if you're in need of... literally anything, right? The large Straiton Retail Park is also right down the road, with other name-brand stores for homewares, pet supplies, and shops for clothing, like TK Maxx. 

Even if you're not in the market for a ficus or flower pot, you should check out the family-owned Pentland Plants. Stroll through the massive garden center and greenhouse, taking in the floral scents and sights of all the greenery, supplies, merchandise, and decorations. Then take a seat at the on-site Café Panola for breakfast, soup, sandwiches, or sweets made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Stewart Brewing is another visit-worthy locale in the industrial park area. They offer guided brewery tours of the large space with tastings and have a modern pub with a small beer garden in the back. As of this writing, there are 18 brews on draft and a kitchen making Neapolitan-style pizza. It's an easy spot to spend an afternoon sampling pints and chatting with friends and staff — just don't forget the unspoken etiquette rule to never break in Scotland, or you'll risk offending locals. For a meal in the heart of Loanhead, The Radhuni is an Indian restaurant with quite a reputation. It's a spacious, elegant spot with a back terrace, a Traveler's Choice award on TripAdvisor, and an impressive 4.8 rating on Google Maps with over 1,300 reviews.

There are beautiful sites tucked outside of Edinburgh within walking distance of Loanhead, and plenty of nature awaits a short drive away. Wherever you're looking to go, the 'right to roam' is a rule that sets Scotland apart from the rest of the UK as a hiking destination. Loanhead Memorial Park is a large green space in the heart of town that's lovely to sit for an afternoon with a book while the children explore the playground. A block away, Burghlee Park is a large open meadow with football pitches and a nature area with paths through a grove of trees.

To really stretch the legs, a few hiking routes stand out. The five-mile circular route to Roslin, a quiet village hiding a scenic chapel and castle ruins, offers an ideal mix of nature and history. It takes around 2.5 hours to complete the trail through forests and across farmland, with an important stop at the stunning 14th-century Rosslyn Chapel and castle ruins, which were featured in the best-selling book and popular film The Da Vinci Code. The area is managed by a trust and has a whole complex with a visitor center and a coffee shop on the grounds.

Roughly five miles southwest of Loanhead is Pentland Hills Regional Park. It boasts over 60 miles of marked hiking trails through woodlands, prairies, and along reservoirs. There are casual, few-mile strolls past grazing livestock to longer jaunts that connect to the Edinburgh Core Paths System. Beyond hiking, the park is a place to fish, horseback ride, and even swim on hot summer days, but the Pentland Hills website emphasizes doing research before jumping into the water, since some reservoirs can be a bit dangerous.