Walkers set off on trail of salt monks

Published on Saturday 20 June 2009 11:25

MORE than 50 walkers were expected to take a step back in time today to re-enact the famous 14th-century Cistercian Monks salt walk from Newbattle Abbey College in Dalkeith to the beach in Prestonpans.

Local residents and members of community walking groups, such as Ageing Well, were due to join students and staff from Newbattle Abbey College in an attempt to complete the ten mile walk in less than five hours.

The walk was designed to replicate the same route the monks of Newbattle Abbey took when they travelled to Prestonpans in the 1500s to pan for salt.

Newbattle Abbey College planned the walk in partnership with the Prestoungrange Arts Festival, which has organised for all 50 walkers to have the chance to see how salt was produced in Prestonpans.

Rae McGhee, heritage officer at Newbattle Abbey College, said: "We decided that the salt walk would be an excellent way to share with the rest of the community a part of this history."

Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, the Baron of Prestoungrange and founder of the Prestoungrange Arts Festival, said: "Salt production goes to the very heart of the history of Prestonpans – it even accounts for its name – so we are delighted to join with Newbattle Abbey College to celebrate this heritage."