The Arts Festival was once again delighted to welcome the ‘Cistercian Monks’ from Newbattle Abbey – current students and local Dalkeith walkers. As they had in 2009, under Rae McGhee’s leadership some 40 brave souls re-enacted the ancient ritual of Cistercian monks making their way to the sea shore at Prestonpans to gather sea water to make salt. It was a blistering hot day and all concerned needed extra ’salt’ anyway and they were also invited to some in-house hospitality courtesy of The Prestoungrange Gothenburg.



This year ‘high salinity’ sea water had been provided by the Goth’s Chef Andrew Laurie so that the walkers could finish the salt making themselves – in 2009 Preston Lodge Chemistry Club had obliged [as shown packaged here below.]

The Arts Festival very much hope this will remain an annual event with even greater involvement in Prestonpans as well. Next weekend sees the Arts Festival and Fowler’s Ales making their way to Newbattle Abbey as it celebrates its Celtic Festival!

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