Surveying The Line

Out for a jaunt to run in new tyres we dawdled along Auchencorth Moss, from which two towers are visible from the road. Mr Flum was sure they were vents for the pipeline from Talla reservoir but extensive search, which took rather longer than the blip deadline, indicates that they are survey towers.

There are nine marked as 'pillars' on the OS map of 1955 along what is termed the Course of the Conduit for Edinburgh Corporation but, as far as I know, this is the only one surrounded by a curtain wall.

We were able to approach to the foot of the tower and saw inside that, between the tower and the outer wall, someone has dumped an armchair (it may even be that same chair that appears on Google Streetview) - quite what possess anyone to cart a heavy obstacle several yards over boggy ground to dispose of what might have been taken to the tip is beyond understanding.