Walk No. 215: Ocean Terminal to Silverknowes
Date: Wednesday 22nd March 2017
Distance: 5.5 miles approximately
Thirty-three strollers met at Ocean Terminal to
walk along to Silverknowes on a dull, windy but dry day. Passing the Chancelot flour
mill, part of the operations of American food giant Archer Daniels Midland,
producing organic and non-organic flours, bakery pre-mixes, concentrates and
sundries for the baking industry in Scotland and the North. On past Newhaven Harbour,
site of the building of the largest Scottish ship the Great Michael launched in
1512 then sold to the French in 1514 after the battle of Flodden. Passing
the Old Chain Pier, where steamers used to operate from between 1820 and 1850
when Granton Harbour surpassed it. The pier was
destroyed in a storm in 1898. Granton Harbour was built to ferry steam trains from Edinburgh to Burntisland in Fife in the days before the Forth Railway
Bridge.
At
Granton Square we were supposed to be met by Bill M who obviously hadn’t
checked bus routes in a long time and got lost but managed to get on a 47 and
catch the group as we made our way through the site of the old gas works, now a
mix of housing, supermarket and a college as well as a newly formed park. It
also opened up access to view the early 19th century house of Caroline House,
which was in the middle of the gas works. We passed the old railway station,
which is now a listed building, before making our way down to the windy
promenade, then along and up to our finish at Silverknowes Golf Club.
It was here that an injury from a golf club sustained many years ago resurfaced
and caused an embarrassing situation when one of the group failed to recognise
the differing signs for the ladies and gents toilets. I’m sure she’ll take more
care in the future.
Thanks yet again to Drew for organising this interesting walk. Looking forward
to seeing you all on the next walk on 20th April.
