Strollers Walk No. 216 - Thursday 20th April 2017, Cramond Brig to South Queensferry

Walk No. 216: John Muir Way - Cramond Brig Toll to High Street, South Queensferry
Date:              Thursday 20th April 2017
Distance:        5.3 miles approximately
This  linear walk followed part of the John Muir Way through the grounds of Dalmeny Estate. On a windy, dry, sometimes bright April day thirty Strollers met up to walk to South Queensferry. One even then walked back, while the rest of us caught the bus or had left a car near the end. Walking through the Rosebery Estate and parallel with the River Almond and on down to the sea shore the wind dropped away and it became a nice calm day for a lovely walk. Passing Eagle Rock, which has a carving of an eagle reputedly done by a Roman Soldier from the garrison at the River Almond, we made our way along the edge of the 9 hole golf course towards Dalmeny House.
Dalmeny House & Estate has been home to the Earls of Rosebery since 1662 and the house itself was completed in 1817. It marked a great departure in Scottish architecture with its Tudor Gothic style and its highly-decorated chimneys and crenellations, looked back toward fanciful 16th-century English mansions, such as Hampton Court. The house hosts a collection of Napoleon memorabilia, as well as paintings by artists such as Raeburn and Gainsborough. Prior to this the family stayed in Barnbougle Castle which is on the site of a medieval tower house built by the Mowbray family which was destroyed and then rebuilt in the 19th century. At Barnbougle the fifth Earl of Rosebery (Prime Minister) practised his speeches in a gallery hall built for the purpose.
We then continued through the woodland past Fishery Cottage which gains it name from the salmon netting undertaken until the 1950s when declining stocks of salmon made the operation uneconomic. You can see the remains of the wooden piles along the seashore. Continuing on past the Hound Point Terminal where oil tankers from all over the world stop to load up with oil from the North Sea which has been refined at Grangemouth Refinery further up the river. The oil is then stored at Dalmeny Tank Farm, near Dalmeny Village, before onward transmission to the oil terminal at Hound Point. Then on towards South Queensferry realising it was still windy, before finishing our walk under the Forth Rail bridge.
Our thanks to Ian for organising a very nice walk and for arranging such good weather.

National Trust for Scotland - Members' Car Park Sticker

It's that time of the year again when National Trust members receive the NTS spring magazine.
Although I'm never quick to read my copy, I always remember to search through it straight away to find this year's Car Park Sticker. However, this year, rather than hiding it in the magazine, the NTS have put it inside the Members' Guide book (look between pages 24 and 25).
This is an improvement on previous years, as members are more likely to hang on to the Guide book. Previously some of us have previously thrown out our Car Park sticker with the magazine.
Be warned.

Strollers Walk No. 215 - Wednesday 22nd march 2017, Ocean Terminal to Silverknowes

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.