Erratic Isolation

The leaflets produced by Lothian and Borders GeoConservation are sufficiently detailed, yet easily understood, to make a simple walk both interesting and informative.

This morning we followed one along the Water of Leith at Redhall, which took us past two grottoes (extra photo) which were constructed in about 1830 for the owner of Craiglockhart House, as places to sit and rest while walking. At the boarded-up Redford House we searched for a doocot but have yet to find it, however, the Scilla and Snowdrops from the abandoned garden were pleasant. We took a coffee break watching dogs exercise on the playing fields of Merchiston Castle School, above the millstone quarry, leased by James Gowans and in use during the C18 to produce a coarse sandstone. Above our seat were trees opening their springtime blossom.
Down towards the river are exposed seams of a flaky mudstone, part of the Wardie Shales, however we did not see (or did not identify) the important Redhall Marine Band, which contains fossils . There is more mudstone close to the river.
All of which brought us to the main photo, the Glacial Erratic, a large dolerite boulder carried from the west during the last ice age, 10,000 years ago, Mr Flum kindly stood next to it to give scale. From there we noted the Hailes Sandstone on the opposite bank as we returned towards the start.

By this time the paths were busy with other people, dogwalkers, and cyclists, old and young but very few had any notion of social-distancing. We stood aside to allow them to pass at the recommended distance but, despite the space available, most made no attempt to move in return, except for the last lady we met who made a great effort to stand well off the path - we exchanged comments, and agreed that this walk was no longer suitable unless undertaken early in the day.

With so many people now unable to work and the children no longer at school, I think our future outings will be far more remote.