Cramond is a charming village to the northwest of Edinburgh. Most people these days would regard it as a suburb of the city and it has been under the auspices of the Edinburgh Corporation (a forerunner of the modern city council) since 1920. The settlement lies on the Firth of Forth and the tidal Cramond Island lies just off the foreshore, linked to the mainland by a causeway constructed during the Second World War as a defence measure.
Despite the fact the tide times are prominently displayed and almost certainly err heavily on the side of caution, around 50 people each year find themselves cut off. I had been out to the island before and today wanted to concentrate on following the River Almond upstream along the purpose built path. The Almond flows into the Forth at Cramond and is the traditional boundary between the counties of West Lothian and Midlothian. As you might expect, Cramond gets very busy at weekends and I therefore set out early to ensure a parking spot close to the shore. I was due to collect my parents and sister from Edinburgh Airport in the afternoon and didn't want to find myself struggling for time. I had a scout around the beach which is a site of historic interest - Roman artefacts have been found here. I headed over to the Almond estuary and began following the water against the flow. It's an easy path to follow and there are a couple of weirs and the remains of an old mill.
The route passed under the A90 and became very muddy due to the wide path having been churned up by bike tyres in several places. The popularity of off-road cycling has a downside. It's fine on firmly laid surfaces but earth paths seem vulnerable to swift erosion. However, I had my boots on so it caused no real problem to me. I left the river and entered the Cammo Estate - a semi-wild nature park run by Edinburgh council since 1980. I strolled through a meadow buzzing with insects and birdsong. An informal network of paths took me across the plain as a different type of plane roared overhead. The estate sits directly under the flightpath for Edinburgh Airport. The old house is now a ruin, having been torched by vandals in the 70s. The area is obviously popular with families and it's nice to see an alternative to simple expanses of grass or manicured gardens. An urbex edge was added by the presence of an abandoned stable block. I also wanted to seek out the path to Cammo Tower. I climbed the little hill behind the tower which gave a better perspective for a photo, rather than ground level looking up.
I returned to the car via the streets and set off for the airport, stopping for a bite to eat at Burger King. I was on a partial veggie kick and plumped for the bean burger. Nothing special, a crumbly texture and rather heavy on the processed cheese. My disappointment was assuaged by the unlimited drinks refills that were available. The Royal Highland Show grounds were being prepared as I approached the airport and the little side roads were blocked off. I actually worked my first ever proper shift here back in 1989 as a kitchen hand on the princely pay of £2.50 per hour. Tax free student status too! Due to the inaccessibility of the little country lanes, I couldn't employ my usual strategy of waiting discretely in a quiet spot until a text message comes through to say my passengers have disembarked. The airport parking rates increase exponentially once you stay beyond a token 20 minutes and I try to beat the system in any way I can. This time I had to bite the bullet and wait patiently in the arrivals hall. My folks and Linda arrived safely and it was back to mum & dad's to hear the usual holiday tales.
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