Roslin Chapel & Roslin Glen, Scotland

Roslin is a small town on the southern outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland.  This series of photos was taken during a day trip in August 2021.  The highlight of the trip was the 15th Century chapel; the architectural detail is simply stunning.  Since the late 1980s, the chapel has been the subject of speculative theories concerning a connection with the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail, and Freemasonry. It was prominently featured in this role in Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code (2003) and its 2006 film adaptation. Although medieval historians say these accounts have no basis in fact, it does not stop you wondering about times gone by and the secrets that lie within.  Taking photos inside the chapel is not permitted so I will leave that to your imagination; it is equally, if not even more beautiful, than the exterior.

Leaving the chapel, it is only a short stroll down towards the ruins of Roslin Castle; whilst there is nothing much to see nowadays, the courtyard offers some lovely views over the Glen where you can see the River Esk meander through the forest.  Wandering down into the Glen is a joy; calm and tranquil is how I would best describe it.  There are many paths to wander and it would be easy to spend the day doing just that.

The area was however not always that peaceful; from 1804 - 1954 the Roslin Powder Mills were active in producing gunpowder for a range of mining and military uses.  The mixing of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur was a dangerous business that would have resulted in a number of explosions over the years.  Nowadays there are only ruins to be seen, the most picturesque of which was the old wheelhouse.