Travels in Scotland, the North Berwick Coast

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Travels in Scotland
The North Berwick Coast

Continued From Page One
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Preston Mill, click for larger image From Tantallon we took the road to East Linton and stopped by Preston Mill, the last operating water mill in Scotland. Time seems to have stopped here with the buildings showing a distinct tilt, but the grinding of grain continues to this day.

From East Linton we went to Athelstaneford and the home of the Scottish national flag - the Saltire or cross of St. Andrew. The white cross on a blue background is the oldest flag in both the Commonwealth and Europe and is said to have originated in a battle fought in 832 AD between Angus mac Fergus (King of Alba) and aided by the King of Dalriada against a large force of Angles and Saxons led by one Athelstan.

Saltire Memorial, click for larger image Fearful of the coming battle, King Angus held prayers and saw a cloud formation of a white saltire against the blue sky. He vowed that if with the saint's help he won the day, then St Andrew would be the patron saint of Scotland.

The Saltire memorial is in the churchyard and was built in 1965. It consists of a battle scene carved in a granite slab. The main panel shows the combatants facing one another and the other side the acceptance of defeat beneath the St Andrews cross in the sky. The inscription on the memorial reads:

Tradition says that near this place in times remote Pictish and Scottish warriors about to defeat an army of Northumbrians, saw against a blue sky a great white cross like St Andrew's, and in its image made a banner which became the flag of Scotland.
Click for larger image Next to the Memorial is a flagpole on which the flag is flown at all times and which is illuminated at night.

To the rear of the church is a 16th century "Doocot" or dovecote, in which pigeons were kept for supplementing the diet during the winter months. This was built in 1583 by George Hepburn whose son , Sir John Hepburn, was the founder and colonel of the Royal Scots Regiment founded in 1633 for service in France under Louis XIII. The title Royal Regiment of Foot was conferred by King Charles II. The regiment has used the saltire as its emblem since the 17th century. Within the doocot is a short audio visual display that relives the battle and operates automatically as the door is closed.

Haddington is the county town of East Lothian and dates from the 12th century. The 15th century St. Mary's Church is known as the "Lamp of Lothian" because there used to be a lighted lantern in its tower.

Meet Brian Orr, Click Here From Haddington, if there is time, the visitor must be tempted to head for the Glenkinchie Distillery to seek out the Edinburgh malt whisky and the tour round the distillery. The tour will show you the use of Scottish barley and pure local water being mashed to produce the "wash" from which the alcohol is distilled. In law the spirit must be stored in oak barrels for at least three years before it can be called whisky. There is an exhibtion of malt whiskies and a complimentary "dram" is very tasty.

But please remember the "Drink Drive" rules are pretty tough in the UK, so don't over-indulge. Buy a bottle in the shop and take it back to your hotel for an evening nip before retiring !.

Slainte.



Thursday, December 26th, 2019

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