| 002 King's
Chair, Gullane Hill, Gullane. |
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Description
The Kings' Chair is a natural?
boulder in the shape of a rather uncomfortable reclining chair,
hardly fit for a King!. The stone is part of a group of three
stones and appears to be of the same rock found locally. Other
stones can also be seen in the immediate area.
Directions
Gullane is about 15 miles east of
Edinburgh and the King's Chair can be reached either from the
Gullane Bents or the town. From either location there are winding
footpaths that will lead you to Gullane Hill. The King's Chair is
on the north or seaward side of the hill below the rocky outcrops.
Parking
At Gullane Bents where a charge may be
made during the season or in the town.
Fieldnotes
All I had to go on when I first visited this location were the
words "King's Chair" on Ordnance Survey Explorer Map
351. The database at RCAHMS had no entry but the name itself and
a rock outcrop shown on the map indicated it might be worth a
look. Even if there was nothing to see, it was also a good bird
watching area. After exploring the hill top and only finding
exposed and natural bedrock, I was about to give up when I
noticed a few boulders lower down the north slope of Gullane
Hill, on the slope facing the Firth of Forth. Closer inspection
revealed the King's Chair. It's not that thrilling in itself but
when you've followed up a lead and actually found something, it
raises the location in your personal values. Nice location with
good views and worth a look.
Also of interest is that "King�s Chair" is the
name given to the 8th hole on Gullane Golf Club�s 18-hole
Number One course, established back in 1884. This shows that the
"King�s Chair" has at least existed since that time,
and probably much longer.
For those interested in strange goings-on, October 2000 saw
the nearby village of Gullane hosting the East of Scotland UFO
Conference in the Templar Lodge Hotel. East Lothian has two
notable sites for those interested with all things
extra-terrestrial. Both Traprain Law near Haddington (site of
014 Maiden Stone), and North Berwick Law, are recognised
"hot spots" for UFO activity and attract regular
parties of "sky-watchers". Numerous strange sightings
have been reported in and around the area.
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