Edin's Hall Traditional Cache
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(regular)
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Edin’s Hall may be approached from the Abbey St Bathans Car Park ( N 55 50.991; W 002 22.829) to the west or from a small car park (N 55 50.483; W 002 20.280) just off the A6112 to the east. The sign at this latter CP states 2¼ miles to Edin’s Hall but this is the round trip distance. An Information Board at Abbey St Bathans CP shows a 10 kilometre circular route along the Whiteadder Water taking in a visit to the broch. This circular route is highly recommended but an out-and-back from either direction will give a very enjoyable walk with lovely views of the Whiteadder. The walk from the east involves a slightly exciting crossing of the Elba Footbridge offering fine views into the river’s gorge. NOTE The footbridge has been recently modernised and the new bridge is much more stable though it retains a little of its previous swaying.
Refreshments may be available at the Riverside Restaurant and Craft Gallery beside the Abbey St Bathans CP.
Although brochs are relatively common in the north and west of the country, Edin's Hall broch in Berwickshire is one of very few to be found in the Lowlands of Scotland. The site at Edin's Hall is the combination of a well-preserved hillfort with a broch at its west end.
The fort consists of a double rampart up to 4.5 metres in height in places and covering an oval area of around 135 metres by 75 metres.
The Hill fort was there first apparently, then the broch was added in the late 1st century AD. The restored broch survives to a height of nearly 2m in places, which is more than enough to give an impression of the structure when fully intact. The overall diameter of the broch is around 27 metres which is very large for one of these sites and considerably larger than found in the northern examples.
The broch's visible features include an entrance passage with door-checks, guard chambers off the entrance passage, traces of flagstone flooring in the central compound, and surviving intramural chambers. One of the intramural chambers features the base of a surviving stone staircase giving access to upper, presumably wooden platforms
Folklore
'According to one local legend, it was said that the area was inhabited by a giant called Etin or Edin. He had three heads and was blamed for the loss of cattle, sheep and people. Many tried to kill him, only to fail miserably. Eventually three brothers attempted to try to kill the giant, but they each decided to try separately. As the first brother left, he gave the others a knife which he said would shine if all was well but would rust if he was in danger. The lad set off and came to the giant's broch. The giant decided to ask the boy questions about Scottish history- none of which he could answer. The giant then turned the boy to stone. The second brother noticed the knife had rusted and set off to find him. The outcome was the same for him, and he was turned to stone. Then the third brother decided he had to find the other two. On the road, the third lad met a poor old woman, with whom he shared his food. She told him many stories about Scottish history, and from a bag she took out a large bundle which she told the boy to use if he was in danger. When the lad arrived at the broch, the giant pulled him in and before eating him asked him questions about Scottish history. This time the brother was able to answer the questions. The giant, somewhat surprised, was going to kill the boy anyway. But the lad pulled out a double-headed axe from the old woman's bundle. Bringing it down on the giant, he severed all three heads at once. The two brothers were then restored, as were all the other missing people.'
From 'Myth and Magic: Scotland's Ancient Beliefs and Sacred Places' by Joyce Miller 2000
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n ynetr obhyqre.