EK NEWS ARTICLE: ERIC KENT   This week’s Duncanrig Ramblers walk was located in East Lothian and the walk from Dunglass to Dunbar was around 9 miles long and is part of the John Muir Way. The John Muir Way is a continuous path, which extends for almost 73 km, linking East Lothian with the City of Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. The route offers magnificent views of East Lothian including much of the coastline and a chance to see the natural history and historic sites of this unique landscape. It links with many other paths, so small sections can be tackled on their own or as part of a circular route. The route is named in honour of the conservationist and founder of America's National Parks, who was born in Dunbar in East Lothian in 1838. The today walk started at the edge of the Hamlet of Dunglass which was once a large medieval Village. A church was founded at Dunglass in 1450 for a college of canons by Sir Alexander Hume. Collegiate Churches were generally endowed by the great and the good (and the rich) of the land. Each was served by a small religious community whose primary role was to pray for the souls of their benefactor, his wife, and his family.  Presumably the idea was to relieve the great and the good of the onerous burden of praying for their own souls. Lennon and McCartney may have been right in suggesting that "money can't buy you love": but in the Scotland of the 1400s many believed it could buy you salvation. The Reformation in 1560 effectively ended the system of Collegiate Churches in Scotland and this event resulted in the removal of decoration and statues from most churches, Dunglass included. You can still see the niches in Dunglass from which statues were taken. Dunglass Church remained in use until the 1700s. We travelled down by the side of Dunglass Burn to Bilsdeen Creek. This area is well known for the sandstone rock formations found along the shore area. From the creek, the walk continued along the shore along by the rocks and sand in excellent sunny weather which remained with use throughout the walk.  As we got close to Torness Power Station were amazed at the number of people who were fishing from the sands and the sea defence wall of the power station and even from canoes in the little bays in the area. The Power station is a major contributor to the national power grid. Building of the station started in 1980, and it was commissioned in 1988. We stopped for Lunch at Skateraw Harbour where there is a well preserved example of a 19th century lime Kiln. A small harbour was built in the early 1800s for landing coal for firing the lime kilns and taking the lime away by sea. This area is a popular spot for picnics. We continued on along the coast close to the dues above the beach before Barns Ness where the light house looked magnificent gleaming in the sunshine. The Lighthouse at Barns Ness was built by David A Stevenson, Engineer to the Commissioners. The light was commissioned on 1 October 1901, approximately 2½ years after building operations commenced. The tower is 121 feet high, and is constructed of stone from Craigree (near Cramond) and Barnton quarries. The lighthouse was automated in 1986.  Just after leaving the Ness we passed Catcraigs which is geologically famous due to variety of the types of limes stone which are identified from the different fossils found in the rocks on the foreshore at low tide. We then passed by our final sandy cove at White Sands and then walked along the edge of the  Dunbar Links Golf course and on into Dunbar. Dunbar is a lovely place for a visit but my favourite story about Dunbar will appeal to the ladies. This inspiring story of courage and fortitude is about a lady with the nickname of “Black Agnes” so called due to her swarthy complexion. More formally known as the Countess of Dunbar and March, undertook the defence of the Castle located at the sea edge  with a small garrison of archers and servants to defy a combined English Army during the winter of 1337. The castle at that time was very extensive and a substantial fortification and she took a very leading role at the front of the defence inspiring her people against the English who were led by the combined armies of the Earls of Arindel, Salisbury and Norfolk complete with battering rams and all manner of other war machines. After failing to capture the Castle by force the English decided to turn the siege into a blockade and they were close to succeeding when the Castle was relieved by Alexander Ramsey of Dalhouni who inspired by Black Agnes came from the Bass Rock with forty men by darkness in a boat crammed full of provisions to reinforce the defenders in their hour of great need. This act of great bravery broke the spirit of the English besiegers who gave up after five months. What an inspiring story!  During the walk the following wildlife was spotted and included roe deer, weasel, hedgehogs, gannets, eider ducks, oyster catchers, black guillemot, sanderlings, gold finches, swallows and martins and a red admiral butterfly. Also seen were red poppies, red campion ladies smock, blue alkanet, hairbells and  jack by the hedge. The social hour was enjoyed by all at Dalkeith.