Nae swans

This is the mouth of the River Esk - with the Firth of Forth beyond. The Esk starts as two rivers - the North Esk springs up near Carlops, and proceeds by way of Roslin Glen and Melville Castle. (For those who like references - think of Dan Brown and the da Vinci Code, and the old Scot's comic air - "Wullie's gane tae Melville Castle.

The South Esk, meanwhile, rises in the Moorfoot Hills and proceeds through Dalkeith. They join forces in the grounds of Dalkeith Castle - and then flow into the sea in Musselburgh.

The reason for coming here is that on any day this time of year you will see 100 swans and their cygnets. Any day, that is, except today.

Over on the right bank, there is a concrete arrow set in the grass. During World War 2, bombers practising their skill would look for the arrow, follow the direction it pointed, and come to a target out in the Forth on which to drop their dummy bombs.