No damp proofer listed in Howgate yet.

A damp proofer diagnoses and treats damp problems in buildings - rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation - using chemical injection, tanking, waterproof membranes and ventilation solutions.

Many older Scottish properties, particularly stone-built ones, suffer from damp issues that worsen if left untreated, leading to damaged plaster, timber rot and unhealthy living conditions.

Be cautious of firms that diagnose rising damp everywhere - get an independent survey first, as the cause is often condensation or penetrating damp, which requires a different and often cheaper solution.

Howgate is a small village on the A6094 between Penicuik and Roslin, sitting on the high ground above the North Esk valley.

The Howgate Restaurant, a long-established local dining spot, has put the village on the map for visitors from Edinburgh and beyond.

The surrounding countryside is open farmland with views to the Pentland Hills and the village is within easy reach of both Penicuik and the Straiton corridor.

Howgate is a quiet, rural settlement with a handful of houses, but its position on the road between Penicuik and Roslin gives it a recognised identity.

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Midlothian is a compact council area immediately south of Edinburgh, stretching from the city bypass through the valleys of the North and South Esk rivers to the northern slopes of the Pentland Hills and the edge of the Scottish Borders.

The region has a strong industrial heritage - coal mining shaped communities like Newtongrange, Gorebridge and Loanhead for generations, and the National Mining Museum at Newtongrange preserves that history. Today those same towns are thriving residential centres with a sense of identity that predates their recent growth.

Dalkeith is the administrative centre, with its impressive palace grounds and busy high street, while Penicuik sits against the Pentlands with the feel of a self-contained town. Bonnyrigg and Lasswade, once separate villages, have grown together into Midlothian's most populous settlement.

Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The Da Vinci Code, draws visitors from around the world, and the Pentland Hills Regional Park offers walking, cycling and riding within easy reach of the city - a landscape that makes Midlothian feel far more rural than its proximity to Edinburgh suggests.

The Borders Railway, reopened in 2015, connects Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge to Edinburgh Waverley and has driven significant housing growth. Midlothian is one of Scotland's fastest-growing council areas, attracting families and professionals who want space, green surroundings and a strong community without the city price tag.