Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian were for a long time my local patch, within easy reach of Edinburgh. Perhaps not the most photographed part of Scotland there is much of interest not far away from the city. Lothian is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The area of Lothian was previously divided into three shires (the area controlled by a sheriff), called the shires of Edinburgh (or Edinburghshire), Haddington (or Haddingtonshire), and Linlithgow (or Linlithgowshire). Each of these three counties had an informal alternative name referencing their position within the former province of Lothian: Edinburghshire was also known as Midlothian, Haddingtonshire as East Lothian, and Linlithgowshire as West Lothian. The three Lothian counties were all legally renamed during the 20th century, with Haddingtonshire becoming East Lothian in 1921, Linlithgowshire becoming West Lothian in 1925, and Edinburghshire becoming Midlothian in 1947.
The Borders
The Scottish Borders are rich in history and contain rolling hills and attractive river valleys. It is one of 32 council areas of Scotland and is bordered by the Scottish areas of West Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian to the north, the North Sea to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south-west and South Lanarkshire to the west. As its name suggests it borders the English ceremonial counties of Cumbria and Northumberland to the south. The council area occupies approximately the same area as the historic shires of Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire. The largest settlement is Galashiels, and the administrative centre is Newtown St Boswells. The term ‘Scottish Borders’ can be also used for the areas of southern Scotland and northern England that bound the border, namely Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, and Cumbria.
The Trossachs
The Trossachs is a beautiful area of mountains and lochs to the east of Loch Lomond, and has been referred to as ‘the Highlands in miniature’. Much of the Trossachs area is protected by various different conservation designations, including the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve. The Trossachs form part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was established in 2002. Scenic boat rides on Loch Katrine are popular with visitors: the steamer SS Sir Walter Scott, launched in 1899, remains in operation.
