The Environs of Craigniillav. 177 



by Guy, Count of Namure, were routed by the Scotch 

 under the Earl of Murray and WiUiam de Douglas 

 in 1336 ; and also where James IV. reviewed his troops 

 prior to his departure for the fatal field of Flodden ; 

 but which bids fair at no distant date to be covered 

 by houses, a large portion of it being already built 

 upon. West from Nether Liberton may be seen the 

 red sandstone gateway which commemorates the 

 achievement of the Lord Provost of that date. Sir 

 George Harrison, of acquiring in 1884, as a public 

 park for the citizens of Edinburgh, the Blackford 

 Hill, so indissolubly associated with Sir Walter 

 Scott's " Marmion," as in the following lines: — 



" Suffice it that the route was laid 

 Across the furzy hills of Braid. 

 They passed the glen and scanty rill, 

 And climbed the opposing bank, until 

 They gained the top of Blackford Hill." 



A site has been chosen on Blackford Hill for the 

 erection of a National Scottish Observatory. This 

 building, with its magnificent telescope from Dunecht 

 and other astronomical and electrical instruments, 



M 



