B6372
| B6372 | ||||||||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||
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| From: | Penicuik (NT229602) | |||||||||
| To: | Oxenford Castle (NT384654) | |||||||||
| Distance: | 14.4 miles (23.2 km) | |||||||||
| Meets: | A766, A701, B7026, A6094, A7, B704, A68 | |||||||||
| Former Number(s): | B704 | |||||||||
| Highway Authorities | ||||||||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||||||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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For the original B6372 further north in the same county, see B6372 (Musselburgh).
The B6372 is a long L-shaped route across Midlothian.
The route starts on the A766 Carlops Road to the west of Penicuik town centre and heads southeast along Bog Road. Initially it crosses playing fields but it soon becomes residential, passing a mixture of houses and bungalows, bookended by a pair of very elegant mock-tudor style hotels. It then bears round to the left, past an old church hall which looks either unfinished or partially demolished, to follow West Street into the town centre. After passing a couple of shops it meets the A701 at a T-junction by the Belgian consulate, with the wide market place stretching out ahead. The two routes have a short multiplex south along Bridge Street, and just after crossing the bridge over the River North Esk the B6372 regains its number by turning left along Pomathorn Road, signed as unsuitable for HGVs. The reason for the sign is quickly apparent as the road dips steeply down to cross the Black Burn before it winds up Castle Brae, out of the valley, climbing steeply.
After passing the last houses, a sharp double bend through trees leads on to a short straight. It soon levels out, but continues to gain height, snaking across fields and presently reaching the B7026, which is crossed at a staggered crossroads. At various points along this section of the route, there are good views back to the west of the Pentland Hills. A long strip of woodland lies mostly on the northern side of the road as it continues south east along a gently undulating straight. The A6094 is crossed at a straight crossroads, beyond which the road is signed as unsuitable for wide vehicles. The junction seems to sit in a hollow in the landscape, with the B6372 climbing gently round some meandering bends towards a wooded hilltop. After passing the end of the trees, the route crosses a summit of 275m, with the hills ahead now coming in to view. A long winding descent across moorland fields passes a scattering of farms and houses as the route dips into the valley of the Fullarton Water.
Two small headstreams are crossed before a straighter climb lifts the road up alongside a wood to a sharp left turn. It then heads more-or-less northeastwards along an unudlating straight which crosses the overall summit of over 280m before dropping down into Gillygub Dean. This steep, narrow, wooded valley is quickly crossed, although there are a couple of tighter bends. A one and a half mile long straight continues north east through the scattered settlement of Roseberry and down to Braidwood where the straight ends. A meandering descent then drops down into the wooded valley of the River South Esk, which is crossed on Braidwood Bridge. A right turn on the south bank leads into the small village of Temple, but the B6372 curves back to the east and climbs steadily out of the valley. The route winds around the edge of the grounds of Arniston House and on across fields and through patches of woodland, straightening out as it continues north east.
The A7 is met and crossed at a signalised crossroads, on the far side of which the route enters Birkenside, a suburb of Gorebridge. It descends Powdermill Brae, passing through twentieth century council housing, before curving round to the left where some older houses are found. The Gore Water is crossed at the bottom, and on the far side of the bridge, the B6372 TOTSOs right (ahead is the B704). It climbs steadily up Lady Brae to go over the Borders Railway, with the station just to the left, and enter Gorebridge itself. The route continues to climb up Lady Brae, and before long fields appear on the right as the route skirts the southern edge of town. Again, the housing is predominantly twentieth century semis at first, but then a modern housing estate backs onto the road. At the top of the hill the route has to give way to an unclassified road at a double TOTSO staggered crossroads at Mossend. It then continues on a long undulating straight across the fields and through the small settlement of Newlandrig.
After passing between the pretty cottages of Newlandrig, the route kinks left twice as it passes Vogrie Country Park. Another long straight leads into Dewartown,m which is very similar to Newlandrig, but the Main Street is a little wider, and some of the cottages appear to be modern. The last mile is a sinuous section across fields, crossing an unclassified road at a crossroads before continuing northeast to end on the A68 opposite the gates to Oxenfoord Castle.
History
The route was originally unclassified but the western portion had gained Class II status by 1927. At this time it was numbered as an extension of the B704, which ran from Penicuik to Lasswade via Gorebridge. By 1932 the B6372 had been assigned to the easterly section from Gorebridge to Oxenfoord. The B6372 was extended to its present length in 1935, leaving the B704 to run from Gorebridge to Lasswade, although the reason for the renumbering is unclear.
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