A very select band of ten Strollers met at the Ferrymuir Shopping centre in South Queensferry for a walk round the grounds of Dundas Castle.
The walk started slightly later than billed
as the coordinator got an extra tour of South Queensferry on the bus due to
road closures. Other Strollers got caught out by the one way system down by the
front and others just got lost! A good start to the walk.
Leaving the Tesco car park we made our way up
to the entrance to Dundas Castle crossing over the noisy motorway.
Such a difference as soon as we went into the
grounds, just the noise of birds and the occasional golf shot and the sun came
out as well. One of our Strollers decided it was so nice that they stayed at
the gate to the main house and sunbathed till we came round for them again.
The house and Castle are now used as a
conference and wedding venue and the current castle really dates from the 1800s.
It has been in the hands of the Stewart-Clarks from the late 1800s and a huge
renovation of it was carried out by the current owner from the mid-1990s. Following
the path with its views of Edinburgh and the Pentlands, we made our way down to
the small loch with its own little boathouse which is now a small self catering
cottage. We sat there and had lunch and a chat with one of the estate rangers.
It was with some difficulty that we continued the walk as everyone had settled
down in the sunshine watching the ducks and swans etc. on the loch.
Walking down through the woods we passed the
fields with horses and the old dovecot before making our way back to meet up
with our other, now suntanned, Stroller. Making our way back to Tesco for the
buses and cars we had a lovely view of the new bridge.
Our thanks to Drew for organising the walk
and the weather.
The next walk will be Bonnyrigg to Penicuik.
