Castles · Central Scotland
Oldwoodhouselee Castle
In or near Auchendinny.
Oldwoodhouselee Castle — scheduled monument in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.

Anne Burgess — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Newtongrange · 7.8 km
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Oldwoodhouselee Castle, the nearest railway station is Newtongrange, located 7.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is EH25 9QJ. Entry is subject to limited wheelchair accessibility.
About
Oldwoodhouselee Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "scheduled monument in Midlothian, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.8416°, -3.1876°.
Photo gallery
360° viewimagery from 2023
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Old Woodhouselee Castle was a 16th-century tower house located approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland. It was situated south of the River Esk, near a dismantled railway track.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Old Woodhouselee Castle was a 16th-century tower house located approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland. It was situated south of the River Esk, near a dismantled railway track.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
It is suggested that Old Woodhouselee Castle was built by Oliver Sinclair in the first half of the 16th century, though Historic Environment Scotland dates it more broadly to the 16th or early 17th century. The property belonged to the Hamiltons of Bothwellhaugh. According to reports, Regent Moray expelled Lady Hamilton and her young from the castle, leaving them naked; the child subsequently died, and Lady Hamilton reportedly went mad. Her husband, James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh and Woodhouselee, later assassinated Regent Moray at Linlithgow in 1570. The castle was demolished in the late 17th century, with its materials used to construct Woodhouselee, a building that has since also…
Architecture
The castle was situated on a high rock. Today, only three cellars and a ruined wing of an L-plan tower remain. The surviving structure measures 63.5 feet (19.4 m) in length, 20.75 feet (6.32 m) in width, and 8.75 feet (2.67 m) in height. A small structure at the site is believed to have served as a kitchen.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.8416, -3.1876
- District
- Midlothian
- Postcode
- EH25 9QJ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Midlothian
- Nearest railway station
- Newtongrange — 7.8 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q42887816 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Oldwoodhouselee Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Auchendinny Viaduct
Historic bridges · 0.1 km

Sophia Inglis Memorial, Wester Auchendinny
Memorials & monuments · 0.6 km

Auchendinny
Towns & cities · 0.6 km

Sophia Inglis Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.7 km

Royal Scots 1633 to 2006 Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.1 km

War Memorial Lodge
Memorials & monuments · 1.1 km

Glencorse Parish Church
Historic churches · 1.5 km

War Memorial, Glencorse Parish Church, Glencorse
Memorials & monuments · 1.5 km

War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.5 km

Old Parish Church, Glencorse
Historic churches · 1.9 km

Mauricewood Colliery Disaster Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.9 km

Roslin
Vineyards · 1.9 km
Nearby
📷 3Historic bridges · Central Scotland
Auchendinny Viaduct
Auchendinny Viaduct is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Sophia Inglis Memorial, Wester Auchendinny
Sophia Inglis Memorial, Wester Auchendinny — category C listed building-listed memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Towns & cities · Central Scotland
Auchendinny
Auchendinny — village in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.
Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Sophia Inglis Memorial
Sophia Inglis Memorial — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Royal Scots 1633 to 2006 Memorial
Royal Scots 1633 to 2006 Memorial — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
War Memorial Lodge
War Memorial Lodge — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Oldwoodhouselee Castle
Places to stay
📷 5Hostels · Central Scotland
Penicuik YMCA-YWCA
Penicuik YMCA-YWCA — a hostel in scotland central.
Caravan parks · Central Scotland
Slatebarns Caravan Park
Slatebarns Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland central.
Campsites · Central Scotland
Carsewell Guide Camp
Carsewell Guide Camp — a campsite in scotland central.
📷 5Caravan parks · Central Scotland
Kevock Vale Park Retirement Living
Kevock Vale Park Retirement Living — a caravan park in scotland central.
Places to eat & drink
Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Craigiebield House Hotel, 50 Bog Road, Penicuik
Craigiebield House Hotel, 50 Bog Road, Penicuik in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Gothenburg Public House, 45 Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith
Gothenburg Public House, 45 Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Coach and Horses Public House, 168 High Street, Dalkeith
Coach and Horses Public House, 168 High Street, Dalkeith in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · Central Scotland
The Canny Man's, 237, 239 Morningside Road, Edinburgh
The Canny Man's, 237, 239 Morningside Road, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Cross Keys Tavern, 41 Lanark Road, Slateford, Edinburgh
Cross Keys Tavern, 41 Lanark Road, Slateford, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Leslie's Bar, 45, 47, 49 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh
Leslie's Bar, 45, 47, 49 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
More castles in this region
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Achallader Castle
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Oldwoodhouselee Castle?
- Oldwoodhouselee Castle is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH25 9QJ).
- What is Oldwoodhouselee Castle?
- Oldwoodhouselee Castle — scheduled monument in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.
- How do I get to Oldwoodhouselee Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Newtongrange, about 7.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH25 9QJ.
- Is Oldwoodhouselee Castle a listed building?
- Oldwoodhouselee Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Does Oldwoodhouselee Castle charge admission?
- Oldwoodhouselee Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Oldwoodhouselee Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Newtongrange, about 7.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH25 9QJ.