Lothian. The Lothians guide

The Falkirk Tunnel was carved through Prospect Hill purely because William Forbes of Callendar House didn’t want to see the Union Canal passing through his land. Two of the men who worked on the project were the infamous serial killers Burke and Hare.

Dunbar is the birthplace of John Muir – the father of American National Parks.

While some monasteries are famous for producing wine or rearing sheep, the monks of Newbattle Abbey were skilled coal miners.

Made famous as Lallybroch in Outlander, Midhope Castle was once home to 53 estate workers.

Tradition states that the town of Lasswade’s name came from a rich laird who climbed on a stout woman’s back to be carried across the river while he shouted, “Wade lass, wade!”

The famous Rosslyn Chapel was originally intended to be much larger and cruciform but after its builder William Sinclair died, his son decided to stop construction and put a roof on what was already finished.

The Binns Tower standing on the hill above House of the Binns is a folly, built in 1826 after Sir James Dalyell won a bet on the most pointless way to spend £100.

Located in Dunbar and established in 1719, Belhaven Brewery is the oldest still working brewery in Scotland.

It’s claimed that the fountain in Linlithgow Palace was made to flow with wine to welcome Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

The Wizard of Yester, was said to have instilled the Coulston Pear with magical properties to ensure his family flourished. It stayed perfectly fresh for centuries until a pregnant Elizabeth Mackenzie gave in to her cravings and took a bite, cursing the family into ruin.

The Scottish Saltire is said to be the oldest national flag still in use, dating from the Battle of Athelstaneford in 832 when a combined Scot-Pict army gained inspiration from the clouds forming the St Andrews Cross against the blue sky.

The Bass Rock with its huge seabird colonies is known as one of the Wonders of the Natural World today but was once a political prison. In 1691, four Jacobite officers captured the fortress from the inside and held it against the government for almost three years.

In a prominent position outside Falkirk Trinity Church, you can find the grave of William Wallace’s friend and right-hand man - John de Graeme of the Bright Sword.

The village of Temple is named after the Knights Templar who had a church on the site of Old Temple Kirk. This settlement was once called Balantrodach which means Town of the Warriors in Gaelic.

Blackness Castle on the banks of the Firth of Forth is commonly known as the Ship That Never Sailed as its design makes it appear to have a prow, stern and even a mast.