An old village of north Edinburgh lying 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the city centre, Davidson's Mains developed around the junction between the roads from Leith and Edinburgh, to Cramond and South Queensferry. Originally known as Muttonhole, the structure of the village, together with many of its older buildings, was saved by the re-routing of the Queensferry Road to the south in 1823. The name Davidson's Mains is derived from the wealthy Davidson family, which traded with the Continent and lived at nearby Muirhouse. The village remained a relatively isolated farming community until the early 20th century, but first the railway (which formerly came this way to Barnton) and then other forms of public transport brought suburban expansion.
To the west are the estates of Barnton House (now demolished) and Lauriston Castle, largely now parkland or golf courses. To the north are the housing schemes of Silverknowes and Muirhouse, and to the south Blackhall and Corstorphine Hill.
