Penicuik is known as the papermaking town. The first mill was established in 1709 at Valleyfield on land leased from Sir John Clerk. Within 100 years there were 10 mills between Penicuik and Lasswade. The last mill, Dalmore, closed in 2004. The coming of the railway improved transport to the mills.
There have been caches along this stretch of the old railway for some time but some of them have now gone. This is an attempt to revitalise this area for caching. The ultimate aim is to develop a circular walk around Penicuik using the existing path network. This footpath/cycleway runs from Penicuik to Dalkeith and will very soon join up with a REAL railway. For this cache there are access points at Valleyfield (car parking), Beeslack and Auchendinny.
The path along here is heavily used by walkers, joggers, cyclists, dog walkers and pram pushers. In other words, you are unlikely to get the path to yourself. Stealth and subterfuge are, therefore, essential to prevent the caches being muggled.
With thanks to the Midlothian Ranger Service for permission to place this series of caches.