Place Name

Camps, Midlothian, Scotland

A wee place that sounds like it’s ready for battle but mostly it Isnae!

Introduction:

Welcome tae Camps, a name that sounds like it should be full of tents, soldiers, and folk shoutin orders, but is instead a peaceful wee corner of Midlothian where the loudest thing you’ll hear is a tractor or a dog that’s decided you’re suspicious.

The name has that no‑nonsense feel you get across the Lothians. Short, simple, and probably chosen by someone who didnae have time for poetic flourishes. And honestly, it suits the place. Camps is practical, steady, and quietly pleasant.

Folk here enjoy the best of both worlds. You’re close enough tae Edinburgh for work or a day oot, but far enough away that you can still see the stars at night and hear the wind movin through the fields. It’s a place that feels lived‑in, settled, and content with itself.

If you’re lookin for drama, you’ll no find it here. But if you’re after a wee slice of Midlothian calm, Camps delivers.

Toponymy:

Camps – Likely derived from old Scots or Gaelic terms for fields, enclosures, or open ground. In some cases it hints at historic encampments or meeting places, but more often it simply refers tae farmland or open plots.

Camps is short, sturdy, and rooted in the landscape rather than legend.

Historical Context:

The area around Camps has long been shaped by agriculture, estate lands, and the slow, steady growth of rural Midlothian. Old maps show fields, steadings, and tracks that have shifted over the centuries, but the name has lingered, hintin at a time when the land was divided into workable plots or used as a gathering point.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the farms and cottages around Camps supported local labourers, shepherds, and families who worked the land. The arrival of better roads and rail links connected the area tae Edinburgh and West Lothian, but the rural character remained.

Today, Camps is still a quiet, lived‑in place. A handful of homes, a stretch of road, and the sense that life here moves at a gentler pace than the city just over the horizon.

Points of Interest:

If you’re wanderin nearby, hae a keek at:

• Kirknewton – A village wi history, charm, and a strong community feel.

• Dalmahoy Estate – Woodlands, walks, and grand scenery.

• Pentland Hills Regional Park – Open moorland and miles of trails.

• Almondell & Calderwood Country Park – Riverside paths and peaceful woodland.

• Harburn Estate – Historic grounds and quiet countryside views.

Notable Figures:

Famous folk associated wi Camps or Midlothian include:

• Robert Adam – Architect whose influence shaped Scotland’s grandest buildings.

• Bonnie Prince Charlie – Passed through the region during the ’45 rising.

• Sir Walter Scott – Drew inspiration from the landscapes of the Lothians.

• Dame Sarah Siddons – Actress with strong ties tae the area’s cultural history.

• James Clerk Maxwell – The physicist whose family roots stretch across the Lothians.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself near Camps, take a moment tae enjoy the quiet roads, the open fields, and the sense of calm that Midlothian does better than most. It’s a place that doesnae shout for attention, but leaves a gentle impression all the same.

For more daft, delightful and downright silly place names, shuffle over to www.strangeplacenames.com. And if ye git a rattlin on yer flaps, dinnae shoot til you see the white of thir Turkey teeth

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