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Scotland & Northumberland
Another look around Edinburgh, the borders at Hadrian's Wall & Northumberland
Page 1 of 5
Issue: 1 Updated: 7th January 2011
A copy free feature
Starting at Cramond Island .......
1. Cramond Island & tidal causeway (MTCV)
2. Cramond Island
Reached by a tidal causeway which has a WWII submarine defense boom running alongside
3. A fearless Heron
Just a few feet from the causeway Herons fish the mud pools oblivious to passing pedestrians
4. Cramond Islands Fort
There's always a Fort which is actually a 75mm Gun emplacement
5. The 75mm Gun emplacement had it's own searchlight in WWII
Fortified the island has a number of surviving 1940's gun emplacements, stores, shelters & engine rooms
6. Gun Emplacements (Steven Harrison)
The only remains of the barracks are a few large concrete stumps largely buried in the undergrowth
7. The view North to the top of Cramond Island
The Romans probably used Cramond Island in support of their Fort & outpost in Cramond village: Preserved Roman ruins are buried adjacent to the car park
8. View South from the top of Cramond Island
The island supported sheep farming which remained until the 1960's. Fishing, and oyster cultivation was from the 17th century, the beds long being depleted
The ruin of a small stone farmhouse, abandoned in the 1930's can be seen in the island's small wood
9. View East towards Inchkeith
10. View South East towards Edinburgh Western Harbour & Leith Docks
11. Hound Point Oil Terminal with the Forth bridges beyond
12. Undated - An old postcard of the Forth Rail Bridge
13. Postcard of the contours of the Forth River Bed (July 2007)
14. Inside the 75mm Gun Emplacement
The island is only a third of a mile long and covers around 17 acres, it doesn't take long to complete a circular walk
15. Causeway from the 75mm Gun Emplacement
Today the island is famed as a venue for Punk gatherings, festivals and picnics add to the mystery of the islands double life
The Kaiser Chiefs & Punks O'Polli the Gaelic group and in 2003 a Terry Wogan lookalike competition was staged - Terry came third!
The River Almond ......
Return across the Causeway to walk the banks of the River Almond
16. The River Almond Estuary at Cramond
Reach Cockle Mill, take refreshments at the Cafe in the old office building, view remains of the dam, dock and other buildings nearby
17. Upstream to the man made weir
18. Fairafar or Niddry Mill
The ruins are that of the Mills forge
19. Solid stone built walls remain intact
20. With low door ways and windows, suspect the ground has been in filled
The mill driven by the Almond's waters turned a water wheel which worked a trip hammer
21. Mill Dam
Water cascades towards the sea
22. Mill Dam waterfall
23. Down river to where the water wheel would have been
Further upriver there are ruins of Peggies & Dowies Mills
24. Dark & dank
The path wanders by the Almond overhanging Willow tree's flank the banks creating a catastrophic atmosphere
The Cramond Association has a lot more history and pictures of the village
The City of Edinburgh .......
25. Princes Street Gardens ...