The 2009 sponsored walk got off to a good start. St. Mungo's was also holding a Strawberry Tea on the same morning, allowing walkers the opportunity to take refreshments before they set off on the 7.5 mile walk around Pencaitland.

Thirteen gathered outside St. Mungo's and headed off to the beautifully well kept village of Pencaitland, where Ian Dickson had put together a route that took us on paths that circled round the village. The weather was overcast, but warm enough for tee shirts and shorts for those brave enough. Ideal walking weather. The squally showers encountered on the drive to Pencaitland never reached us, and we stayed dry for the whole event.

Setting of form the village centre the path took us along the side of the Puddle Burn, where soon we came across Winton House.

Winton was built by the Setons following a grant of land by David I to Phillip de Sayton in 1150. In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII had Winton burnt in an effort to impress Mary Queen of Scots, and Mary Seton was later her Lady-in-Waiting. The Seton's tenure lasted until 1715 when they backed the Jacobites. It was also was requisitioned by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 when his rebel army camped on Winton Estate. The Hamilton Nisbets, who bought the House and Estate, linked it to one of the greatest inheritances of the 18th and 19th centuries. The furnishings came from all over Europe and the Turkish Empire and the impressive estates then included Muirfield and Gullane Links. Today Winton is the family home of Sir Francis and Lady Ogilvy. [more]

We pressed on along the bank of the burn for another mile or so before turning off toward the old railway line. Now used as a walkway, the single line would have served the Woodhall and Huntlaw coal pits which were working in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The walkway is well kept, with many signs detailing what the walker is passing through, and written in a way to encourage children as well. We even came across totem poles on the route, though no one in our group was sure what they signified.

One problem with walking an old railway line route is that trains prefer to travel in straight lines, and looking along a straight three quarter mile path is not a great encouragement if you are walking! However the views from the embankment made up for it as we headed for Lempock Wells, a former farm now sympathetically converted to housing, where we joined the main road.

The route took us to the left but the pull to the right was hard to overcome, as the Glenkinchie Distillery was only a few hundred yards to the right! Oh well, another day perhaps.

Walking carefully up the road to West Saltoun we entered the Saltoun estates through the West Lodge Gate. The rich farming country around Pencaitland is well served by rivers for irrigation, and we joined the course of the Birns Water, and stopped nearby Saltoun Hall for our packed lunch.

The home of the Fletcher family since 1643, the current Saltoun Hall was built in 1820 and sits on the bank of the Birns Water. The 19th-century designed landscape is laid out to woodland walks along the river and clumps of trees in the parkland, which is now farmed. An 18th-century formal parterre garden near the house was removed by the mid-19th century and is now largely grassed over, though traces still remain. In 1970 the house and a small area of garden was sold and converted into flats.

Refuelled and ready to proceed, we headed for the main gates to the estate at Spilmersford Bridge, which crosses the River Tyne, passing what appeared to be a small castle tower. In fact it was the Dovecot for Saltoun Hall, a most grand architectural affair.

Taking the path that goes under Spilmersford bridge on the north side of the Tyne we met the most difficult part of the walk. The pathway was narrow and heavily overgrown for about a mile and many route splits had to be checked to ensure we were going in the planned direction.

On the south side of the Tyne we passed Tyneholm House, a red sandstone country house designed in the early part of the 1800's by the famous pioneer of Scottish Baronial architecture, William Burn. Today Tyneholm is Henrietta and Edward Gimlette's family home, restored, renovated, decorated and beautifully furnished, with two magnificent bedrooms set aside for bed and breakfast guests. [more]

We were now on the final leg of the walk which took us back on to the main road and back to our transport. Many thanks to Ian and Moira Dickson for selecting and planning this years walk. Always a good way to enjoy a day out, in the company of like minded people. Lookout for next years event and join the company, and keep fit at the same time.
 

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