URPoint Details
A small village close to Edinburgh on the attractive estuary of the River Almond.
The church stands on the site of a Roman fort, Caer Almond, built by Antoninus Pius in AD142, and some relics excavated are on display in the Huntly House Museum.
Robert Louis Stevenson stayed here and described the village in his novel ‘St Ives’.
The Old Bridge has associations with the Stuarts. James I crossed it on his way to Perth in 1436 and was warned by a soothsayer to go no further. He continued his journey and was murdered in Perth.
In the 16th century, James V was attacked by thieves on the bridge but was rescued by Jock Howison, a miller. The king presented Howison with all the land round Braehead, and made a proviso that his descendants should always have a pitcher of water and a basin ready to present to the sovereign. This condition was fulfilled at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II when the miller’s descendant presented a silver ewer and a bowl of rose water.
Location: 4 miles west of Edinburgh
- Type:
- Landmark