Swanston, Edinburgh
in Edinburgh, United KingdomCategory: Attraction
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24 Swanston View, Edinburgh EH10 7DQ, UK Print route »
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Swanston is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland at the base of Caerketton Hill. In 2001 it had a population of only 75 residents.It is a small village lying to the south of the larger suburban area of Fairmilehead, on the south side of the Edinburgh City Bypass off Oxgangs Road, and five miles from the city centre. The name is also used to encompass some of the more modern housing on the approach road to the village, on the north side of the bypass. Swanston lies on the lower northern slopes of the Pentland Hills, which are accessible from the village.
The main old village is unique in Edinburgh (and arguably Scotland) being a highly picturesque group of whitewashed thatched cottages set informally around a little stream with traffic being encouraged to stop outwith the village. The village is therefore set beyond a dead-end in terms of adopted roads but a historic route continues through the village and up into the Pentland Hills. The thatched houses were all Council houses until the 1970s but due to their idyllic nature and siting all were quickly bought up when the Right to Buy legislation was then introduced.
The Hillend dry ski slope is nearby and can be seen from much of the area. Swanston also houses two golf courses in the area: Lothianburn Golf Course and Swanston Golf Course. Both are placed on and around the Pentland Hills.
The area (together with Comiston) was the source of Edinburgh's water supply from very early times. Swanston Cottage was built in 1761 by the Town Council, in connection with the waterworks. It was raised in height to two storeys in 1820. In 1790 the original hollowed out tree trunk pipes, which served the city, were replaced with iron pipes. The early cisterns serving the city still exist in the fields to the east of the village. Swanston Water House (1761) lies between Swanston Farm and Swanston Cottage.
