Cammo Estate

I finished work at noon today as was due some time back from a course I did a few weeks ago. Despite it looking a bit grey and windy when I left work I decided to go for a drive to find something new to blip.

I settled on Cammo Estate and can't believe that in all the time I have lived in Edinburgh that I have never been before. I have noticed the tower when driving past on many an occasion and kept meaning to take a closer look one day.

Today was that day and what a great place to explore with lots of blipping opportunities. Will need to go back again soon!

Here is what it says about Cammo Estate:

The first historical reference to Cammo occurred in 1345 when it was owned by the Abbot of Inchcolm. The estate was originally designed by Sir John Clerk of Penicuik in 1710, the first person in Scotland to design landscape which included wild areas as well as formal lawns, gardens and drives.

Throughout the twentieth century the estate was owned by the Maitland-Tennants. They led a very reclusive lifestyle and the estate fell into disrepair. The estate was left to the National Trust for Scotland, who feued the land to the City of Edinburgh Council in 1980.

The remains of Cammo House and the other structures such as the walled garden, stables and water tower can still be seen, as can some of the oldest trees in Edinburgh.

Due to its location on the edge of the city, Cammo is a great place for wildlife. An abundance of minibeasts, butterflies and insects can be found along with larger animals such as foxes, badgers and rabbits.

Buzzards can frequently be heard soaring overhead when walking through the fields while Herons and Kingfishers can sometimes be spotted looking for food at the canal.