A summer outing – 1905 style

On 9th June 1905 the members of Leith Burns Club went on an excursion to Aberfoyle. They left Leith on special train from Junction Bridge Station and picked up more passengers at Bonnington and Waverley. Eventually there were 225 excursionists in total.

The train ran to Dunfermline and then followed a route that a modern railway enthusiast would envy. They went along the north shore of the Forth to Stirling via Alloa and then joined a cross country route known as the Forth and Clyde Junction Railway eventually reaching the Aberfoyle branch.

At Aberfoyle they went to the Bailie Nicol Jarvie Hotel and had lunch. As there were so many of them the hotel had to divide them into two groups. One in a marquee in the grounds and the other in the dining room. After lunch they had a sight seeing tour round Loch Katrine.

When they returned to Aberfoyle the ladies were served a ‘Welcome cup of tea’ although what the gentlemen got is not recorded. They had dinner, again in two groups but both groups enjoyed speeches, toasts and a recitation of the works of Robert Burns. Eventually they arrivedback at Junction Bridge Station at 11 p.m.

Leith Local History Society are planning a summer outing on 24 June 2006. The destination is the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther with high tea in the Craws Nest. We, however, do not plan on having such a long day. We intend to leave Leith at 12.30 and return at about 7.30. Further details can be had from any member of the committee.