Jacobites and Redcoats face off in Lothians

Published on Thursday 17 September 2009 09:51

THE boom of cannon and musket fire is to be heard once again in East Lothian as Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highland army prepare to defeat government forces.

This time around, however, it will all be in the name of entertainment, as the reenactment of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans swings into action.

Participants will set up an encampment at Cuthill Park from 3pm tomorrow, and at 4:30am on Saturday the Highlanders will begin their dawn march.

They will have rather more to look forward to than their predecessors, however, with the march culminating in breakfast at the Prestoungrange Gothenburg pub.

There will be storytelling and weapons demonstrations through the morning, and the laying of wreaths at Gardiner Obelisk and Battle Cairn at 10am.

Battle commences at 2pm in the Cuthill Park, raging for two hours, until the Redcoats flee to the beach at Morrison's Haven, making good their escape.

For full details of the programme see www.battleofprestonpans1745.org.