A run out to Linton Village (West - that is)

On paper, a day off, but only from my duties at the Dolphin Inn. Off first thing on the "steed of steel", dropped in to one of the farms to see how the staff and beasties were doing, then into town to see the folks at the college. On the way stopping on Braid Hills Road to take the photo of Arthur's Seat; the Crags and the Royal Observatory.

Was not sure where to go next, but as it was a nice day I just headed south west on the A702 and ended up in West Linton, not far from home but generally by passed by hundreds every day. At one time there were two Linton Villages, one in East Lothian near Haddington, and the other (37 miles away) here in Peeblesshire - which caused a great deal of confusion until the Post office came up with a simple solution - add West and East to the respective village !!!

West Linton in the 1600's was a busy place, sitting on the cross roads of two major drove roads, the east west route from Ayr to Musselburgh following the route of an old Roman Road, and the north / south road crossing the Pentland Hills allowing cattle traders to head south to the English markets.
I had passed the clock tower and turned round for a closer look at the statue, to discover that it was a replica, placed there a few years ago. the original was carved in 1666 by the Laird , a stonemason, of his wife. He ( Gifford) also carved the nearby Gifford panel which is now sited in the wall of a house at the side of the road. Within a radius of about fifty metres there were a number of interesting objects to look at, the schoolhouse; the church house; and some wall plaques which I still have to find out about.

Thinking back to my days in the Polis, the local resident policeman, and last of the local bobbies, from the late 70's till he retired was George McGill, who firstly served at Bonnyrigg. One of George's stories was of a couple who had lovely window boxes on the front street which he passed most days - it was one of those days as he passed when the "penny dropped and the light came on" - on checking he discovered that they had a lovely crop of Cannabis growing there!!!!