Binning Wood lies to the west of the A198 which runs between
North Berwick and the A1. If you are approaching along the A1 from
the west it is worth taking the A199 and then the B1407 to travel
through East Linton and Tyninghame Village. Both are very
attractive, with many of the typical features of East Lothian
habitations. As one 19th century source has it: “East
Lothian is far before most of Scotland in the neatness of its
peasant homes”. Is it the Anglo-Saxon influence that has
left streets that bend quirkily and houses that group cosily in
ways different from most Scottish towns? If that isn’t too
far-fetched, then what is it in the native red sandstone, pink
limewash and characteristic orange roof tiles that gives East
Lothian a touch of Tuscany when the sun shines?
Tyninghame itself is a model estate village. Now deservedly a
conservation area, the village was moved wholesale to its present
position from a site further to the east in order that the Earl of
Haddington could look out on formal gardens rather the houses of
his tenants.
There is good parking at N56 00.474 W 002 39.008 access
on the road between Lawhead and Newbyth (signposted from the East
Linton to Tyninghame road).
Long before you and I started worrying about global warming the
landowners of Britain started to think about (re) planting forests.
The credit for planting in this part of the world is given to
Thomas Hamilton the 6th Earl of Haddington who was concerned that
the tree cover on his estates had been reduced by generations of
clearing and felling. It was his wife, Lady Helen Hope, who was the
real power behind the planting in Tyninghame Estate. Her early
successes in growing trees on what was regarded as most unpromising
land convinced Thomas to begin planting in earnest and he covered
what had been Tyninghame Muir with a fine forest, whose successor
we can now explore.
In the style of the Augustan period, the woodland was developed
in a series of formal walks and rides. The pattern of circles and
paths we can still see today follows the original plan.
An Edwardian travel guide to Scotland describes the area as
follows: “After Tyninghame the highway runs through a fine
stretch of woodland. Of old this was bare moor, but the sixth Earl
of Haddington, at the beginning of last century, set to work to
plant on a great scale. As one master schemed and directed
everything was done with method. Great avenues of trees led to a
glade, and thick holly hedges rose in double walks or avenues, now
alone and again interspersed with other trees. The late Queen was
here in 1878 and confessed it reminded her of Windsor and Windsor
Forest. Her Majesty was happy in her visit. Three years afterwards,
on the 14th October 1881, a storm of almost inexplicable violence
burst on the forest, destroying some 30,000 trees and marring the
symmetry of the whole.”
There have been depredations since, and you will find on your
travels a record of a more recent wholesale clearance of Binning
Wood. It was replanted on the original plan by the 12th Earl of
Haddington, who, for reasons of economy, used rather more conifers
than his illustrious forebear. Although no longer part of the
Tyninghame Estate, the Wood is still kept open for public
enjoyment.
On the Trail
Binning Wood has three circular clearings which are linked by
radiating paths. You need to visit each of the clearings to gain
information to lead you to the final cache location. Take care!
Navigation in the wood can be tricky! It is a wood, so tree cover
can interfere with sattelite reception. However, the clues are
within clearings and the final location gives a sufficiently clear
view of the sky. By the same token it is open to observation, so
take care when retrieving and re-hiding the cache.
1st Circle: N56.00.778 W002.38.128
In the centre of the circle is a stone pillar with a plaque which
records the history of the wood. It comprises an area of ABC
Acres and the first planting was begun in 1D0E. The
wood was clear felled in 1939-45 as part of the war effort. The
replanting, begun in 1954, was completed in 1960.
Bruce’s Circle: N56.00.982 W002.38.184
In the centre of this circle is a single tree. What species is it?
Let the number of letters in the name be F
3rd Circle N56.00.800 W002.38.492
In the centre of this circle is a tree surrounded by a number of
other trees. How many trees in total? Let this number be G.
There are also posts by the central tree. How many? Let this number
be H.
The Final Location
The cache is concealed at:
N56.00.MNO W002.38.XYZ where:
M = F
N = H-C
O = G
X = D
Y = C
Z = E