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The Balerno Inn at dusk, an old stone inn on Main Street with lit windows and flowers.
Lothian

The Balerno Inn

A historic village inn on Balerno's Main Street, restored in 2019, with a Scottish kitchen, a sunny garden with heated bothies and five rooms.

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Welcome

On the Main Street of Balerno, at the foot of the Pentland Hills, the Balerno Inn has brought one of the village's handsomest old buildings back to life.

It reopened in the winter of 2019 after a year of careful restoration, and it is family owned and run.

The kitchen, led by head chef Andrew Robson, cooks hearty dishes with Scottish produce from local suppliers, from Sunday roasts to fish suppers, and there are good gluten-free choices. Afternoon tea brings sandwiches, sausages, haggis bon bons and scones with tea from The Wee Tea Company.

The big draw is the garden: a sheltered suntrap with tables in the open and a row of timber bothies, heated and private, that you can book for a group in any weather. Dogs are welcome in the bar, the garden and the bothies. There are five rooms upstairs, which make a comfortable base for walks in the Pentlands.

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The Daily for 1 November, from Scotland with love. A misty lane runs past slate-roofed cottages toward a wooded hillside.
Not farKanpaiA Japanese restaurant of sushi, sake and tempura on Grindlay Street, behind a sushi bar built of stacked cedar blocks.7 milesSee itKanpai
Before you go

Food, drink and rooms; book a table or a bothy online or by phone.

Where
15 Main Street, Balerno, EH14 7EQ.
Rooms
Five.
Dogs
In the bar and garden.

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Where it is

On Main Street in the middle of Balerno, EH14 7EQ.

Close byBalerno.
  1. Sandstone cottages and shopfronts line a quiet curving street with bunting overheadBalerno Main StreetMain Street is the centre of Balerno.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Red telephone box beside a postbox set into a mossy stone wallRed Phone Box - Balerno Village TrustUnder a mile 1 min by road
  3. The Grey Horse pub sign hangs above a quiet Scottish street with buntingBalernoThe village at the foot of the Pentlands.Under a mile 1 min by road
  4. The Grey Horse pub front with hanging fuchsia basket and open signThe Grey HorseA village pub on Balerno's Main Street with a traditional public bar of real ales, a lounge for wine and gin, and a back room for events.Under a mile 2 min by road
  5. Timber-clad courtyard buildings with corrugated roofs and a gravelled seating areaThe Free CompanyThe farm restaurant nearby.2 miles 4 min by road
  6. Jupiter ArtlandJupiter ArtlandThe sculpture park near Wilkieston.5 miles 9 min by road
Directions
Bacon roll and cake on an outdoor table with sunflowersCafeThe Mill Cafe at St Joseph’s Centre0.3 miles
Stone wall curves along a reservoir edge with hills beyondAttractionsHarlaw Reservoir2.0 miles
Reed-fringed loch with autumn trees below a rounded hillAttractionsHarlaw and Threipmuir Reservoirs2.1 miles
Angler wading in a reservoir, green footbridge crossing the water beyondAttractionsThreipmuir Reservoir2.1 miles
Stone tunnel entrance with "Colinton" lettering above graffiti-covered walls and lit pathwayAttractionsColinton Tunnel3.9 miles
Clermount Cottage, EdinburghPenicuikClermount CottageSleeps 2 · 5.1 miles
Wooden sign reading "Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve" fixed to iron railingsAttractionsCraiglockhart Hill5.4 miles
Round sign lettered "B" hangs beside hanging baskets on a stone buildingRestaurantsThe Bridge Inn5.7 miles
Lost Shore Surf Resort, EdinburghActivityLost Shore5.8 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the inn, and when each is next free.

White cow parsley blooms in front of a stone cottage with skylightsSteading
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Penicuik
  • 4 miles from the Balerno Inn
Check datesStone cottage courtyard with slate roof, chimney and rolling green hills behindThe Byre
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Penicuik
  • 4 miles from the Balerno Inn
Check datesA black kitchen counter with flowers on the worktop stands before a curved timber slatted screen opening onto a bedroom.Cartshed
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Penicuik
  • 4 miles from the Balerno Inn
Free 9–11 NovWoodshed
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Penicuik
  • 4 miles from the Balerno Inn
Free 2–5 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in LothianAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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