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Pencraig Brae East Linton Riverside Path

Pencraig Brae East Linton Riverside Path

ELintonWalks_rev0806_v1.qxd 8/8/063:58pmPage1 Routes inandaroundEastLinton

In 1764, George Buchan succeeded his maternal uncle,George Hepburn,as laird of Smeaton and took the name Buchan- Hepburn.He was created a baronet in 1815.A lawyer by profession,he became a hands-on farmer and noted agricultural reformer.While the 36-roomed mansion he built no longer exists,the parkland trees are a reminder of the fine designed landscape linked to the house.His grandson,Thomas,the third baronet,completed the excavation of the lake in 1830 and planted a magnificent tree collection in an environment offering shelter and humidity.The lake became popular with curlers,but was last used in 1982.

Prestonkirk House dominates the entrance to Stories Park.Built in 1865 as the county’s Combination Poorhouse,it served 15 parishes and housed 88 people.It now serves as housing and for the library and Day Centre.Stories Park takes its name from the Storie family of veterinary surgeons,who lived in The Square and kept racehorses in their ‘park’.Francis Storie (d1875) was ’s chief magistrate 1866-72.The Peerie Well,beside the Tyne,supplied the town with water from 1881.If you follow the Tyne up to the Linn Rocks,you come to the original ‘Lintoun’, where the settlement began 1000 years ago.

Traprain Law dominates the view to the south. The most significant prehistoric monument in East ,its secrets are still being unearthed. The ancient standing stone along the walk,one of only six in ,may mark the grave of a local tribal chief.This route was the main road linking and Berwick in mediaeval times,and James VI of may have passed along here in March 1603 as he travelled south to become James I of England.A new post road (the former A1) was built in 1751.In 1763,there was i one monthly stagecoach between Edinburgh and ,a journey taking 12-16 days. The Rock Bass started (add another hour for the circular walk). started (addanotherhourforthecircular the riverandbackupBridgeStreettowhereyou over Placeandthenleft the A199,godownLauder crossover left, atBraeheads,turn by road.Arriving toreturn left bank orcrossthefootbridgeandturn andwalkbacktoEastLintonalongtheriver left anddownthehilltoRiverTyne.the farm Turn to gounderthebridgeOverhailes,walkthrough right onalongtheroadashortdistance,turn carry bythesamerouteor,Return walk, foracircular fine viewpointatthetop. climb upthroughthetreesbehindlay-bytoa over theTyne Valley Hillsthen andtheLammermuir until youreachthelay-by. You cannowlookout the mainroad;usepavementforafewyards Youthe left. at willarrive Brae, thepathbearsoffto before thetopofPencraig the middleoflastfield crossing variousstiles.In Follow the pathupthehill, therailway.underneath through thetunnel of theplayingfieldandthen at thetop,alongedge Gostraighton up Langside. left Brown’s Placethenturn Square. Continuealong the HighStreetawayfromfountainand T Pencraig Brae Pencraig Brae phoning Scottish Natural on01314462400. Heritage Find outmore by visitingwww.outdooraccess-scotland.com or Take outdoors responsibility for your own actions:The • Look after theplaces you visitand Care for theEnvironment: • considerate, Be theinterests ofotherpeople: Respect • remember Access thenew Scottish Outdoor Code: please walking inthecountryside responsibly.When they act Everyone to hastheright beonmostlandandwater providing The Access Scottish Outdoor Code e:060870,Eal [email protected] Email: 01620827608, Tel: Haddington EH42 3HA , Paths to Co-ordinator, Health Anne Adams, For more information contact: themotivationNeed ofaregular group? Would you like to walk more for exercise orpleasure? make you feel good • reduce your bloodpressure • helpto reduce stress • helpyou to sleepbetter • helpto reduce your weight • strong keep your heart • youDid know that walking regularly can Walk more– feel thedifference land managers should act withcareland managersshouldact for people’s safety. cannot bemaderisk-free for peopleexercising access rights; Care for wildlife sites. andhistoric enjoy. enjoying theoutdoors. ofthose andlivelihoods andtheneeds privacy respect views fromthetopofPencraig Brae.Walk down his vigorouswalkwillrewardyouwithexcellent tlst rs,moderate inclineinvolved Stiles to cross, for walkers Recommended 30 minutes route orcircular 1.5hours G rey Dots The Long Stane htgah ayMnis ilPah Alan Meadows. Peach, Bill Menzies, Photography –Gary • Community Council, ofDunpender Members • by theEuropean was alsopart-financed This project • East Lothian Community Council, Dunpender Credits Viridor Scotland, • Landowners andFarmers andadvice hasgreatly whosesupport • The East Linton Path Initiative gratefully thefollowing: acknowledge Acknowledgements produce andtheshopat Preston offers awiderange Mill ofgifts. The Farm Shop at Knowes sellsfresh local andin Nurseries . at the Tourist are Information Point.There alsocoffee shopsat Smeaton welcoming atmosphere for refreshments andthere isacoffee shopsituated pubsinthevillageoffer a The villagehasvarious shopsto explore.The East Linton A1 at to Haddington jointheA199. orDunbar Leave the 7kilometres eastofHaddington. East Linton isontheA199, Directions Follow the pathuntilitcomesoutofagateonto admire thewaterasitroarsthroughLinn. steps[atyourownrisk]to scramble uptherocky reasonably fit,whenyoucancontinueroundand the riveryoumustretraceyourstepsunlessare in When youreachtheprivategardensatturn Gardens, thenwalkalongthebanktoyourright. Prestonkirk downtotheriverafter left turning free carparkbehindtheLibrary. Follow StoriesPark, the firsttur A East LintonRiversidePath East LintonRiversidePath P Design: www.numediadesign.co.uk oint turn left downtheHighStreettoStoriesPark, left oint turn Council for advice, support andmaterial for thisleaflet. support Council for advice, andEast LothianEast Linton LocalSociety History community Tyne EskLEADER+2000-2006programme. create/upgrade paths. Community Environmental to Fund support for financial Council, usto achievehelped thispath network. have beenspotted.F gentle strollalongtheriverbankwhereotters ae Fairly narrow path whichcanbemuddy. care. The rocksat thefarendofpath to benegotiated with narrow path. for walkers only, Recommended strollofapproximatelyA short 15minutes Y ellow Dots Traveline by phoning fromthe informationPublic canbeobtained transport 0870 6082608. n on the right. You canparkhereinthe rom the TouristInformation road bridge The LinnandMediaeval Mill W to TheSquare. backup or left tur n eitherright ynd then aware that shoots often takeplaceinthisarea. aware thatshootsoften any litter, leavegatesasyoufoundthemandbe walk canbeenjoyed.Pleasecontroldogs,takehome T Smeaton Lake Smeaton Lake and itisbykindper Visitors shouldbeawarethatthisisaprivateestate cattle grid. the roadpastlakewalkandoversecond the oldwalledgarden.Thisissituatedfurtheralong While youarehere,visitthegardencentrewithin walk. either gatetothepathasthisisacircular Passentrance gatestothelakeonyourleft. through Smeaton thenfollowtheroaduntilyouseetwo Preston Road. Take to thethirdroadonleft alongtheHighStreetthensecondrightdown left East Linton lake. F his isagentlecir Can bewet inplaces please leave bikes by thegate R Information Point 20 minut Or cmeddfrwlesol,dogsto bekept onalead, for walkers only, ecommended ange Dots rom the Tourist Point, Information turn Walks around sfo nrnegt,1hourfrom Touristes fromentrance gate, mission oftheownersthatthis cular walkaroundabeautiful cyclists andhorseriders. cyclists Great routes for walkers, Smeaton Lake ELintonWalks_rev0806_v1.qxd 8/8/06 4:02 pm Page 2

Stonelaws Newbyth Walks Routes around the East Linton area Brown Dots Green Dots Area highlighted by Magenta Box 2 hours Roundtrip 1hour 15 minutes Various – from 20 minutes plus Recommended for walkers, bikes, horses A flat walk recommended for walkers only. Recommended for walkers only. Can be wet in places, mostly quiet country roads back to Muddy in parts after rain, short steep flight of steps to Muddy in parts after rain wear stout shoes East Linton negotiate

long route with varied terrain suitable for n attractive walk along the bank of the River new path network has been designed at The Kirk was an important place of walkers, bikes and horses. Walk north through Tyne returning by a small country road. Turn Newbyth for you to enjoy this beautiful A A A pilgrimage in the middle ages with at least the village away from the fountain and Square. woodland (consult map for location). There are right from the Tourist Information Point, passed the 15,653 pilgrims recorded in 1413. One Carry on up Drylawhill, cross the road and take the Crown Hotel and down Bridge Street. Turn right routes of varying distances which allows you to significant pilgrim was the future Pope Pius II who signposted track on the right hand side. Follow the under the railway bridge. Cross the road and take the select a walk to suit your capabilities. Please park visited the court of James I with a message from path along the field margin, swinging right along signposted lane on your left down to the riverbank. considerately in the car park provided. . After landing in Scotland, he walked to , the burn you will cross 2 bridges. Once you have The path, easily followed, runs through a mixture of Autumn colour around Newbyth For your guidance and This walk offers a superb view the nearest shrine, barefoot (in winter) to express his passed through the woods you will be heading to woodland and farmland to the cottage at Hailes Mill. safety the routes are of Newbyth House,the former home of thanks for surviving the voyage.The present church Kamehill. You will pass a cottage on the left hand Cross the river using the footbridge built by the Royal waymarked. Even on the prominent Baird family.In the mid 1600’s,Sir was reconstructed in 1917 after the earlier side at the end of the path. Turn left and then Engineers, climb up to the road, turn right for a short John Baird purchased the lands of Foord and Whitekirk building was set alight in 1914 as a short walks conditions immediately right. Take the track up the hill distance to reach the ruin of Hailes Castle. Return to and sold his estate of Byth in .The new suffragette protest. can vary considerably towards Stonelaws Farm. At the end of the track East Linton by the road on the south side of the river. estate became the Barony of Newbyth.This was the so be prepared for turn right on to the road. Follow this road until you childhood home of General Sir David Baird,the hero in the To extend your walk follow the track next to Hailes muddy paths and wear capture of Seringapatam in India in 1799 and a distinguished come to a signpost for East Linton, turn right down Cottage. This leads to Traprain Law, the site of a large stout shoes. A round soldier in the Napoleonic wars between 1801 to 1808.The the hill and continue along the road past Binning Iron Age fort. At the top of Traprain you will experience trip from the car park present house was designed by Archibald Elliot,a noted Woods. You will pass the back entrance to Smeaton splendid views across the county. to the pond is 1 km and Edinburgh architect,in the 1820’s.Used as an Army Nurseries before will take about hospital in World War II it is now eventually coming to a converted into flats. 20 minutes. T junction. Turn right Springtime around Hailes and follow the road There is a small picnic site at the pond where you past Preston Mains farm can stop to enjoy some peace and quiet and observe on your right and the bird life that comes to visit. on your The woodlands are being managed to produce left. At the next T quality hardwood timber of oak, ash, sycamore and junction you will find birch. Over time, much of the conifers will gradually yourself in East Linton. be replaced with broad leaf species which are better Turn left to return to the adapted to the site. Tourist Information Point.

Walking towards the old Mansion House Tyninghame Whitekirk to Gleghornie

Purple Dots Blue Dots Wildlife 2 hours. 1 hour The Tyne estuary is a great place to spot a number of different birds Recommended for walkers, bikes Recommended for walkers, horses Crossing the from the resident waders, such as curlew and oystercatchers to ‘white bridge’from Preston Mill 3 bridges, 1 with steps. The walk can be very muddy in places and is unsuitable for winter visitors such as whooper swans and pink-footed geese. you enter rich farmland created by a wheelchair or a standard wheeled buggy. agricultural reformers such as George Rennie of his walk journeys along the River Tyne, passing From the paths along the River Tyne you will usually see mallard ducks and dippers and sometimes it is possible to spot otters in the .Beneath the soil lie the remains of a 2000- many sites of local and historical interest. Walk ravelling from the A198 by car, turn into Whitekirk T water, or if you are very lucky a blue flash as a kingfisher flies past. year-old round house,showing that this was prime farming north along the High Street and turn right into Preston T village in front of St Mary’s Church. Go through the land long ago too.Houston Mill close by was where Andrew Road. Pass Preston Kirk on your left and continue village and park in the small lay-by on the right hand side. Poppies in a local wheat field In the surrounding farmland Meikle (d 1811),who invented the threshing machine, until you reach Preston Mill on your right. Go through This is a peaceful walk across open countryside. At brown hares make their home, worked.The weir and lade further downriver were built to the Mill grounds and cross the small bridge by the mill present the path requires you to retrace your steps, a while buzzards are regularly seen drive other mills,at Knowes and Tyninghame.Knowes wheel. Walk through the field and cross the River round route is not possible unless you return along the flying overhead.You may catch Ford was a favoured spot for East Linton artists, Tyne by the white bridge, taking a sharp left following side of the busy A198. sight of roe deer from the paths including William Ferguson (d 1922),a colourful character who lived in a caravan here the signs for ‘’. Continue along the A window from Whitekirk Kirk Start the walk by taking or along the edge of woodland – riverbank. Cross the large metal bridge, turn right and the steep lane on the look out for their tracks in softer for 17 years. walk along the edge of a field with the River Tyne on right just beyond the ground. your right until you reach a tarmac road. Turn right lay-by. This turns into a Agricultural History and you will shortly cross the ford at Knowes Mill by grass path to the left We can trace the changes that took place in the East Linton area the wooden bridge. Take a sharp left, and take the The start hand side of the garage. during the Agricultural Revolution of the 18th Century through red whindust path along the banks of the Tyne until of the walk gives fine views of The path follows the the number of significant ‘improvers’ who lived in this area. you reach the A198 Road. Now, either edge of Whitekirk Golf the three bridges that cross the Tyne at East carry on under the tunnel, turn right and follow the Course and passes a Rigs and outfields were replaced by enclosed farms; a new type of Linton - the medieval road bridge,the 1846 John Muir Way to or climb the steps, taking small deep pond on the plough drawn by two horses instead of four was introduced; bigger railway bridge and the modern concrete A199 bypass bridge.The steeply sloping woodland further along the great care when emerging onto the road as it is busy right. The path crosses lime kilns were built by George Rennie of Phantassie; and new farm and fast with blind summits. Turn left and walk down steadings with houses for the farmworkers were erected.At path was one of East Linton’s market gardens,established by the farmland and is George Rennie,of Phantassie,in the 18th century.His brother into Tyninghame Village. Here you will find easy to follow. There Houston Mill, south of the river from Preston Mill, Andrew Meikle was constructing new machinery to thresh the increased quantities John,the famous engineer,designed a waterwheel for Tyninghame Country Store serving lunches, teas, are great views of North irrigating the orchard.Beyond the trees looms the new A1 of grain and with the support of Rennie, new inventions using coffees and cakes. Return to East Linton along the Berwick Law to the Bridge (opened 2004),and just before the footbridge side of the road. There is no path but this road is north and wind and water power were developed.Experiments in farming to Hailes Castle are the foundations of Hailes generally not too busy. Woodlands around East Linton towards the East. techniques were publicised by people like Sir George Buchan Mill,a grain mill first mentioned Hepburn of Smeaton and Robert Brown of Markle.The improved in 1565. At the end of the fields the path crosses over a Burn prosperity brought expansion to the community of East Linton and and passes through a tree lined, narrow path. The renewal of buildings like Preston Kirk.Many of the improvers of the path comes out onto the driveway to Gleghornie. time now lie in the Kirkyard with detailed inscriptions on their Turn right and follow the drive to the farm. The right gravestones which refer to their achievements.The landscape we of way continues on to the A198 but it is best at enjoy today is a reminder of their skills in invention and husbandry. present to turn at this point and retrace your steps. It is a heritage for us to respect and protect.

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