Skulferatu #22 - Ash Disposal Area, Levenhall, Musselburgh, East Lothian

 

In the summer I often cycle from Edinburgh to North Berwick.  Rather than take the roads all the way there I tend to veer off and take the more scenic route along the John Muir Way.  It is more relaxing and offers up lots of great views around the coast and across the Forth over to Fife.

 

Just outside Musselburgh, at the back of the racecourse, the route of the John Muir Way takes you through the Ash Disposal Areas or Ash Lagoons, as they are also known.  These were created by the disposal of pulverised fuel ash from the coal fired power station that was at Cockenzie.  This power station was operational from 1967 until 2013, when it was decommissioned.  It was demolished in 2015.  

 

A view of Cockenzie Power Station from Prestonpans

Demolition of power station chimneys in 2015

 

Some of the Ash Lagoons have been restored and landscaped as wildlife areas, with pools of water created to attract wading birds.  The one that always gets my attention though is yet to be landscaped.  It was, until a few years ago, a grey, crumbly looking mound.  On hot and windy summer days I would cycle past and my eyes would sting in the fine, grey dust that blew off from it.  On rainy days my bike and my legs would be coated with a slimy grey mud.  Then a few years ago some planting took place and there was a whole summer when the lagoon bloomed with hundreds of thousands of poppies.  Now it has returned to a desolate look, though a desolate look with various grasses and scrub.

 

Silver Birch tree and pipes in the Ash Lagoon

 

A view over the Ash Lagoon to Prestongrange

 

Looking out over the Forth

 

Poles around part of Ash Lagoon

Left over apparatus rusting away

 

View over Forth to Fife

Remains of sign that use to warn against walking over the mound of ash

 

Round the top and at the edges of this mound of ash there runs a path.  There used to be signs all round warning people not to walk over the ash as it was dangerous and unstable.  These are now so rusted and faded that they are unreadable.  Lots of people walk over the ash now, but I think it was compacted and made safe…though I may be wrong about that.  If one day it swallows up a walker or two, then we’ll all know it wasn’t safe and be thankful it wasn’t us.

 

Poles and pipe at side of the Ash Lagoon

 

View over grass and industrial remnants in the Ash Lagoon

 

View over Ash Lagoon with Arthur’s Seat in the distance

 

There are plans for this area to be landscaped to extend the wildlife haven that has already been created. 

 

Pipe in the centre of the Ash Lagoon

 

The Skulferatu that accompanied me today was left by a pipe sticking out of the compacted ash.

 

Skulferatu #22

 

Skulferatu #22 by pipe in Ash Lagoon

 

Google Map showing location of Skulferatu #22

(Map shows Lagoon as being an area of water – it is not)

 

The coordinates for the location of the Skulferatu are –

Latitude 55.950414

Longitude -3.014697