Penicuik House

The approach to Penicuik House just off the A766 Carlops Road.

The part of the estate that's currently occupied. This part is private as indicated by the two notices.

Perhaps one day the building will be restored but meantime the work being done is largely to prevent further deterioration caused by weathering and plants and trees taking root.

At the back of the main, fire damaged building is this little bridge over a walkway leading down the hill to the banks of the North Esk.

A closer look at the building in 04 above, showing the clock tower and dome.

A rather unusual dome, perhaps used for star-gazing.

This tiny building was obscured by vegetation and it wasn't possible to determine its function.

Our first look at the pond which we walked round in a clockwise direction. The hills in the background are South Black Hill and Scald Law in the Pentlands.

One of the tiny islands in the pond. The whole area is a haven for wildlife.

The view down to the river valley from the pond's embankment. Part of a conifer plantation is being felled on the other side of the North Esk.

The pink flowers stand up from the water.

Leaves floating on the water's surface. Later there will be water lilies. These pictures taken on the 5th of July 2011.

A boathouse on the other side of the pond.

Zooming on the boathouse reveals a wooden bench where visitors can relax and enjoy the view.

Six ducklings followed by their mother. The largest duckling is leading the whole family, except for father who is absent.

On one of the islands we saw these geese. They descended into the water when they saw us, then swam across to check us out.

The leftmost goose has jumped off the bank and is about to splash into the water.

The geese arrived but we didn't give them any titbits as there's plenty of their natural diet.

It's looking straight at me, as if to say 'where's the snacks, then?'.

A more demure posture.

Two of the fluffy feathered ducklings swim by.

Mother duck emerges briefly from the water.

A tiny frog on the path round the pond. It's not much bigger than a clover leaf.

One of the islands.

Now approaching the boathouse seen earlier in pictures 31 and 32 above.

A general view of the pond.

A closer look at the boathouse. The ornamental woodwork is interesting and can be seen elsewhere on the estate on the bridge and a gate.

I think this is a moorhen chick as it's lacking the white top to its head which coots have.

The entrance to the boathouse from the path. A whale's jawbone is propped up against the gable end.

An attractive gate seems to lead the way through the trees to the clock tower.

A broad view of the back of the main building.

Walking down the path under the wooden bridge in picture 05 above leads you to this area where there's an old walled garden and another house.

I switched to my Pentax DSLR to zoom in on the house through a gap in the garden wall.

The left corner of the wall has succumbed to nature and has a tree growing from it.