Burn of Elsick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burn of Elsick |
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|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | North Sea 57°01′59″N 2°08′35″W / 57.03312°N 2.14311°W |
The Burn of Elsick is a small stream in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It flows into the North Sea at Newtonhill. This watercourse mostly drains farmland areas.
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History of the Burn of Elsick
The Burn of Elsick flows under an old road called the Causey Mounth. This road was built around the year 1100 AD. It is still used today as a footpath for hiking.
The Causey Mounth Road
The Causey Mounth was built on high ground. This made it easier to pass, especially in wet weather. During the Middle Ages, it was the only main route from the southern coast to Aberdeen.
The road connected the crossing of the River Dee (near where the Bridge of Dee is now). It then went through Portlethen Moss, past Muchalls Castle, and on to Stonehaven in the south.
Battles and Historic Homes
In 1639, an important battle happened along this route. Leaders like William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and the Marquess of Montrose led a Covenanter army of 9,000 soldiers. This was the first battle of the Civil War in Scotland.
Above the burn, you can find an old house called Elsick House. This historic home belongs to the Duke of Fife. Also, the Gillybrands coaching inn, which was an old stop for travelers, is located by the Burn of Elsick. Today, it is a farm.
Salmon Fishing History
A small hut, called a bothy, where salmon fishermen used to stay, stands near where the burn flows into the sea. A long time ago, in Victorian times, many salmon could be caught in this area.
However, too much fishing, known as overfishing, has greatly reduced the number of salmon. This happened because more people needed food, and the fishing stocks could not recover.
