Back in time

Swanston Village is nestled on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Robert Louis Stevenson spent several summers here in the 1870s, as a result of his father taking out a lease for Swanston Cottage (on a spur road to the NW of the village) from 1867 to 1880. Stevenson set his novel St. Ives in this village, describing the house in detail. It is also alleged that Stevenson wrote Treasure Island under a tree within metres of his cottage.[1] However, since his authorship of the novel post-dates his final year in Swanston, this is not possible. Stevenson's nanny "Cummy" (Alison Cunningham) lived in the small house on the left hand side of the lane leading to Swanston Cottage, from 1880 till 1893 (having lived in the Cottage with them whilst they lived here).

This little village is an absolute gem at the foot of the Pentland Hills.