Well on a good day, sometimes it is a bit disappointing. This used to be the main source of water for the village of Duddingston, and was said to be the purest in the lothians. A giant hawthorn tree grew nearby, the largest in Scotland. It was blown down in the gales of 1844.
Nearby well, whats there now isn’t ancient. About a mile west on the Queen’s Drive, by the first mini roundabout you come to.
Nearby well, probably not ancient. Cross the road and go down the steps to the lochside and follow the path to hangman’s rock travelling west, you cant miss it.
16/6/02
NT2822672710 Sunday 16/6/02
After climbing Arthur’s Seat Aed and I headed off the hill and all the way down to Duddingston. At the car park by the loch I checked the GPS, Explorer map and the RCAHMS broadsheet to try and get some bearing as to where the well might be because looking around it wasn’t obvious. As it turns out we must have passed it about three or four times and was only just above the car park! Hidden in waist high stinging nettles- I actually heard it before spying it. These days it’s partly covered by a concrete slab, partly by an older stone slab which still has the remains of an iron chain attached to the top- obviously once ended in a cup to partake of the curative waters! The water now flows from a small pipe on the front of a vertical stone slab- it tasted cold and clean! However- just to the left was a very boggy piece of ground- looks like some of the outflow has found another way.
No mention in RCAHMS CANMORE, but mentioned in both the Arthur’s Seat HMSO book and the RCAMHS Broadsheet.
