Midlothian Ranger Service
Vogrie Outdoor Festival
The Vogrie Outdoor Festival runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 11 October and is organised by Midlothian Council's Countryside Ranger Service.
Thanks to the help of our volunteers and partners this year's festival includes 19 events, most of which are free, unless stated otherwise. Please note there is a £3 car parking charge at Vogrie Country Park.
Contents include:
If you have any questions about the activities, please contact:
Vogrie Pumpkin Forest, a magical Halloween lighted trail through Vogrie Country Park, is also running from 8 October to 1 November.
Festival Timetable
Friday 9 October 2026
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Ranger Alan's Walk to Work | 10:00 - 15:30 |
| Trekker Walk: Vogrie to Crichton | 10:00 - 13:30 |
| A Way with Words - Trees | 11:00 - 13:30 |
| Nature Safari with Ranger Andrew | 13:30 - 15:30 |
Saturday 10 October 2026
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Come and try it - Canicross | 08:00 - 09:30 |
| Vogrie Parkrun | 09:30 - 10:15 |
| Vogrie to Prestonhall Circular Walk | 09:30 - 16:30 |
| Moths and Minibeasts | 10:00 - 11:30 |
| Vogrie to Pathhead Circular Walk | 11:00 - 16:00 |
| Vogrie Bat Walk | 18:30 - 20:30 |
Sunday 11 October 2026
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Vogrie Horse Endurance Ride | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Vogrie to Glenkinchie Walk | 10:00 - 16:30 |
| Come and try it - Orienteering | 11:00 - 15:00 |
| Vogrie Miniature Railway | 13:00 - 16:00 |
| Pond Dipping with the Wildlife Information Centre | 13:00 - 16:00 |
| Vogrie Velo with Dr Bike | 13:00 - 16:00 |
| Art in the Park | 13:30 - 15:30 |
| Vogrie Bee Sanctuary | 13:30 - 15:30 |
Event and booking information
Ranger Alan's Walk to Work
This walk begins in Easthouses Park and wanders up to The Pavilion Café in Mayfield Park for a wee cup of tea and a tour of the community garden. From here, next stop is Lawfield Woods and Farm, with spectacular views across Midlothian to Edinburgh. En route, Alan will chat about the landscape, industrial history of the area and its diverse range of wildlife. Vogrie House is our final destination via the picture postcard village of Edgehead.
A FREE bus will take you from Vogrie Country Park to the start of the walk in Easthouses Park.
- 10:00 - 15:30, Friday 9 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 3 route
- 140m of ascent
- 5.5 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Alan Krumholds and Jim Arnott
- Bring your own lunch, waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
Trekker Walk: Vogrie to Crichton
A stroll through Vogrie Country Park and then onto the trail heading along the Tyne Valley to Crichton Castle. We’ll take time to admire the castle and take photos etc. before heading back into Vogrie Country Park, finishing at Vogrie House.
- 10:00 - 13:30, Friday 9 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 2 route
- 122m of ascent
- 5.5 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Mark McCafferty and Stewart Darling
- Bring your own waterproof clothing, outdoor footwear, snacks and drinks
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
A Way with Words - Trees
Join the Midlothian Libraries Wordsmith and Ranger for an autumnal wander through the beautiful woodlands of Vogrie. We will be taking a gentle stroll, meeting some of the oldest trees on the estate and conjuring words to bring their lives and ours to life!
- 11:00 - 13:30, Friday 9 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 1 route
- 10m of ascent
- 1.5 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Juliet Ridgway-Tait and Jo Cooke
- Bring your own waterproof clothing, outdoor footwear, and lunch.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place:
Nature Safari with Andrew
Join Andrew as he wends his way through the varied habitats at Vogrie including woodland, wildflower grasslands, ponds and rivers to show you what lives in and around Vogrie Country Park. He also has some great wildlife footage to begin, which we will view in the Vogrie House.
- 13:30 - 15:30, Friday 9 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 1 route
- 2 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leader: Andrew Todd
- Bring your own waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place:
Come and try it - Canicross
Canicross is cross-country running with your dog. If your dog is at least one year old, then you can try canicross with our friendly group of volunteers at Vogrie Country Park. All paces are welcome and kit will be supplied.
- 08:00 - 09:30, Saturday 10 October
- Please arrive at 8am to allow for harness fitting. Group will start at 8.30am.
- Meeting Point
- Overflow car park, Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Age suitability: 11 - 75 years
- Bring your own dog, comfortable grippy running shoes or trainers.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place:
Vogrie Parkrun
Parkrun organise free weekly 5km timed routes around the world. They are open to everyone and are free, safe and easy to take part in. The Vogrie run takes you around fields, woodlands and quiet pathways, with an option of meeting up in the Tree Top Café at the end for a well-earned cuppa.
- 09:30 - 10:15, Saturday 10 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House Driveway, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages
- Register on parkrun's website and bring barcode
Vogrie to Prestonhall Circular Walk
This circular route starts at Vogrie House and follows the River Tyne to the grand estate of Prestonhall. Here we will wander through the parkland policies and visit the beautiful walled garden, restored and resplendent. Our next stop, for lunch, is above Airfield Farm, with amazing views across the valley and beyond to the Lammermuir Hills. We then head off on farm tracks and country lanes to the quaint village of Edgehead, before returning to Vogrie.
- 09:30 - 16:30, Saturday 10 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 3 route
- 300m of ascent
- 9 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Alan Krumholds and Jim Arnott
- Bring your own waterproof clothing, outdoor footwear, and lunch.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
Moths and Minibeasts
Join Ranger Andrew and Moth Expert Ian for a tour of last nights catch in the dazzling moth trap. From hawk to elephant moths, we ‘ll take a close up look at these creatures we rarely notice and seldom observe. From here its onto minibeast hunting with our bug boxes and magnifiers for a creepy crawly finish to the morning.
- 10:00 - 11:30, Saturday 10 October
- Meeting Point
- Behind Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for ages 6+
- No booking required - drop in anytime.
Vogrie to Pathhead Circular Walk
Leaving Vogrie House we head down into the Tyne Valley for a look at the most gorgeous river and grassland habitats before heading onto the Callendar Estates network heading to Pathhead, through farmland and the village. We return via the Sleepy Ford and Dreepy Burn to Dewarton and finally to Vogrie through the North Woods.
- 11:00 - 16:00, Saturday 10 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 3 route
- 120m of ascent
- 6 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Jo Cooke and Vicki Clarke
- Bring your own waterproof clothing, outdoor footwear, and lunch.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
Vogrie Bat Walk
Join Midlothian Ranger Service for a nighttime adventure with our furry flying mammals. Discover the secrets of what our native bat species eat and where they live. We will begin at Vogrie House with a bat quiz before heading out across the policies to the ponds, grasslands and meadows with our bat detectors in hand to identify the variety of species living here.
- 18:30 - 20:30, Saturday 10 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for ages 6+
- Bring warm clothing and a torch.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
Vogrie Horse Endurance Ride
Horse ride hosted by the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC). You must be able to hack for at least two hours over mostly off-road routes across some of Midlothian’s beautiful countryside. The options for the ride are 13km or 26km.
- 09:00 - 15:00, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie Country Park Events Field, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for ages 8+. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on horseback doing the ride.
- Participants must have their own horse and all the details will be provided by SERC nearer to the event.
- Cost: £13 for SERC members, £25 for non members.
- Book on the SERC website (link to be confirmed)
Vogrie to Glenkinchie Walk
Starting at Vogrie House, we head of down into the Tyne Valley and pick up the Callender Estates path network which will take us to Whitburgh Estate. After a quick pitstop, we follow the Morr Road into the county of East Lothian, via farm tracks and fields to the small hamlet of Peaston. After stopping here for lunch, the final destination of the day is the lowland whisky distillery at Glenkinchie, where we can enjoy the gardens and if you wish, a wee dram.
A FREE bus will take you back to Vogrie House from Glenkinchie.
- 10:00 - 16:30, Sunday 11 October
- Walk Details:
- Grade 2 route
- 145m of ascent
- 7.5 miles
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Grid ref: NT 380 632
- Walk Leaders: Bob Stewart and Susan Goldwyre
- Bring your own waterproof clothing, outdoor footwear, and lunch.
- Booking required: email to secure your FREE place
Come and try it - Orienteering
Use a specially drawn map to find check points which will be set out around the grounds. Some will be on paths and easy to find, others will be on smaller features in woods.
- 11:00 - 15:00, Sunday 11 October
- Final start time for the challenge is 14:00
- The are 3 courses to suit all abilities. Adults, young people and families are all welcome.
- Meeting Point
- In front of Vogrie House, outside the Tree Top Cafe, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. EH23 4NU
- Bring your own waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear suitable for tracks and woodlands.
- Cost:
- £5 for adults
- £3 for juniors
- £4 for parent and child
- Ticket price includes your own map to keep.
- Booking required: email to secure your place
Vogrie Miniature Railway
Join the volunteers of Eskvalley Model Engineering Society for a train ride on scale miniature locomotives. The journey will take you through woodland and beautiful parkland at Vogrie Country Park.
- 13:00 - 16:00, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- At the station driveway, Vogrie Country Park, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages. Children must be old enough to sit on the seat.
- No booking required - just turn up.
- Cost:
- £1 per child
- £2 per adult
Pond Dipping with the Wildlife Information Centre
Join the Wildlife Information Centre and the Ranger Service for a tour of the pond and all things wildlife in the deep. We will have an information display, nets, trays and bug boxes galore to explore what lives in and around this most beautiful fresh watering hole. All equipment is free to use.
- 13:00 - 16:00, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- Pond in front of Vogrie House Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages.
- No booking required - just turn up.
Vogrie Velo with Dr Bike
Come along and get a free bike check up from our Dr Bike mechanic, have a go on the smoothie making bike and test yourself on the biketastic agility course.
- 13:00 - 16:00, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages.
- Bring your bike if you would like a FREE check-up.
- No booking required - just turn up.
Art in the Park
Join the Ranger Service for an afternoon of creative inspiration! We have masses of timber off cuts and the tools to make whatever you fancy. There will be help at hand to learn how to use our saws, drills and hammers & nails to construct your masterpiece in wood and discover your inner artistic soul. Come and give it a go… you never know what prize-winning sculpture you’ll take home with you.
- 13:30 - 15:30, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages.
- No booking required - just turn up.
Vogrie Bee Sanctuary
Join the Ranger Service with The Bee Sanctuary’s David Hennessey for a buzzing afternoon of bee facts, activities and local honey tasting served on David’s pancakes. With one honeybee, 26 bumble bees and 9000 wasp species in the UK, you are going to get a real buzz for this topic here at Vogrie, where David houses his family of 0.5 million!
- 13:30 - 15:30, Sunday 11 October
- Meeting Point
- Vogrie House, Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, EH23 4NU
- Suitable for all ages.
- No booking required - just turn up.
Grades for walk routes
Grade 1: For anyone who does not have a mobility difficulty, a specific health problem or is seriously unfit. The walk is at slow pace on well-maintained tracks and level ground.
Grade 2: For reasonably fit people with at least a little countryside walking experience. The walk includes unsurfaced tracks, low hills and undulating ground. There may be the occasional gate or stile to climb over.
Grade 3: For people with countryside walking experience and a good level of fitness. Will include some steep paths and open country and at a moderate pace. Routes will cross some rough ground with small tracks, gates and stiles and with more ascent.
Grade 4: For experienced countryside walkers with an above average fitness level. May include hills and rough country and may be at a brisk pace, with steep ascents and descents often over very rough terrain.
Walkers should remember that adverse weather conditions could affect the grading of a particular route and that different organisers may interpret the grading differently. If you wish more information regarding route terrain, please e-mail Midlothianrangerservice@midlothian.gov.uk