Скачать или смотреть Just a Dander in Fisherrow

A short journey on a train from Edinburgh to Brunstane Station, followed by a small walk by the Brunstane Burn along part of the John Muir Way, and we find ourselves in Fisherrow.

Now part of Musselburgh, Fisherrow was once a village in its own right, with a harbour and a fishing industry where the wives of the fishermen dressed strangely and looked a lot like the fishwives of Newhaven. It was as if they came to the area from somewhere else, somewhere far over the sea.

Like at Newhaven, these women sold the fish caught by their husbands round the streets of Edinburgh. And each year, to celebrate the end of the fishing-season, the fishwives would parade through Musselburgh and Fisherrow dressed in their extravagant costumes.

Being a coastal village on the banks of the wide Firth of Forth, fishing was Fisherrow's main industry, but not the only one. In the past there were breweries and malthouses, like the Ladywell Brewery and the Fisherrow Brewery. All these industries have gone, and today the town's harbour is just a nice place for a stroll or to park your yacht.

Yet the area played an important role in the development of the United Kingdom and the joining of Scotland and England. The Battle of Pinkie took place in 1547, and was the last pitch battle fought between Scotland and England. It was also the last.

Sadly, Scotland's 36,000 troops were defeated by England's 16,000 troops due to errors made by Scottish commanders who misinterpreted a movement of English soldiers as a retreat. In crossing the River Esk to chase after them, the Scots gave up their defensive position and left themselves open to attack by English cavalry on the Musselburgh side of the river. It wasn't until 1707 that the two countries were joined together.

We end our short ramble in Staggs pub, also known as The Volunteer Arms. Staggs has been run by the same family since 1858. It's wood-panelled interior retains some Victorian features, and is a gem, not to be missed when in the area.