South Gilmerton Brae

Quality of life is about the details of everyday living. From the little things, like knowing the nearest place to pick up a pint of milk, to more important matters like finding the right school or having a health centre nearby, you need to know that the community you’re moving to will support you and your family, as well as being a pleasant place to live. So here’s some useful information about the area around South Gilmerton Brae

Gilmerton has good public transport connections with easy access to the wealth of historic and cultural attractions that Edinburgh offers. Buses on routes 11 and 31 stop a few minutes walk from the development, providing direct access to Morningside, Leith, Newington and Corstorphine as well as the city centre, and both have night services. In addition, the development is just five minutes drive from the City Bypass, providing fast transit to the airport, Fife and the whole of the central belt. The new Royal Infirmary and the University campuses at King’s Buildings and Little France are all in easy reach.

The area’s local attractions range from the intriguing Gilmerton Cove, a man-made underground complex almost 300 years old, to the delightful Butterfly and Insect World and, in complete contrast, the Edinburgh Combat Challenge laser adventure game. Midlothian Snowsports Centre and the Pentland Hills are nearby, and there are several green spaces within a few minutes walk such as Drum Parkwith its children’s playground, and the Burdiehouse Burn Valley Local Nature Reserve where herons, dippers and woodpeckers can often be seen. 

The recently refurbished Gracemount Leisure Centre with its 25m pool, fully equipped gym, fitness studios and sports pitches is around ten minutes walk away. There are four golf courses within  three miles,King’s Acre and Liberton being the nearest, and other local amenities include Valley Park Community Centre, where there are regular sessions covering craft activities, mother and baby  groups,dance and gardening. 

There is a local shopping area at Drum Street, half a mile away, with Iceland and Lidl supermarkets and a large convenience store, and another close to Gracemount Leisure Centre with a chemist, a post  office and branches of Scotmid Co-op and Tesco Express. The major retail park at Straiton, with its Sainsbury superstore, Argos and other national chains, can be reached via a pleasant half-hour walking route. As well as regular kerbside recycling collections for glass, food and packaging, there is a Community Recycling Centre for larger items on Old Dalkeith Road, around two miles away.