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The suburb of Currie, now administered as part of Edinburgh, extends along the A70 Lanark Road as it runs beside the Water of Leith from the A702 Edinburgh Bypass to the adjacent town of Balermo. The river itself provides a scenic attraction as it tumbles through the town over no less than three waterfalls and two weirs. The Water of Leith walkway parallels the stream's course all the way through Currie, providing magnificent views.
History
Currie may well be the oldest settlement in the Edinburgh area. A razor dating from 1800 BCE was found at Kinleith Mill, and there are megalithic cist graves from 500 BCE. The occupants garnered but little notice, mentioned in early documents only as the home of someone noteworthy or more rarely as an area where good hunting was found. The town became significant in history in 1666 when Royalist forces under Dalziel of Binns crossed the Water by Currie Brig to cut off rebel Covenanters, resulting in the battle of Rullion Green.
The whole centre of the town of Currie is a Conservation Area, richly rewarding visitors willing to walk about with their eyes open. One of the highlights is Currie Kirk, built on the site of older places of worship dating back for more than a thousand years. In 1296 the Archdeacon of Lothian, who had ecclesiastical authority over the whole Edinburgh area under the Bishop of St. Andrews, had his headquarters at Currie.
The present church is a Gothic structure built in 1785. During the excavation of its foundations a silver ring was found inscribed with Saxon lettering. Two thirteenth century slabs are incorporated in the wall of the church. The steeple with its weathervane and clock were added in 1818.
Activities
Several first-rate golf courses lie within easy reach of Currie. Kingsknowe Golf Club offers a parkland course with tricky doglegs an diminutive greens calling for the best a golfer has to offer. Baberton Golf Club's undulating course challenges the most dedicated golfers with holes that demand not only skilful placement but the main strength to deal with long distances. Torphin Hill Golf Club has a heathland course exposed to stiff winds, but offering magnificent views of the area.
Hillwalkers will find Currie to be an ideal base. The Water of Leith Walkway follows the river from Balermo adjacent to Currie all the way down to the harbour at Leith, a distance of just over twenty kilometres, and an assortment of other paths cross and intersect it. The campus of Heriot-Watt University just north of Currie provides a number of short walks. The area is also perfect for cyclists, with safe local routes available at most skill levels. Horse riding is available at a nearby equestrian centre.
Access and Places to Stay
Currie sits just outside the A702 Edinburgh Bypass on the A70 Lanark Road. Curriehill Station offers rail connections to Edinburgh and to Glasgow, and local buses connect Currie to the capital where motor coach connections may be had to the rest of the UK. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports offer domestic and international flights.
Self-catering, camping and caravanning are popular lodging options in Currie. There are also country hotels, modern chains and resorts dedicated to particular sports. As Currie is a university town catering to students from nearby Heriot-Wade, food in great variety can be found in inexpensive pubs, tea rooms and takeaways as well as more upscale establishments.
Accommodation in Currie
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