Corstorphine Hill Tower

Gazing up at Corstorphine Hill Tower, have you ever wondered about the irony etched into its stones? This five-story monument, with its castellated top, stands proudly atop Corstorphine Hill. It was built in 1871 to commemorate the centenary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth. Corstorphine Hill Tower, also known as Clermiston Tower, was a gift to the city in 1932, marking the centenary of Scott’s death. The tower, constructed from locally quarried dolerite and dressed Edinburgh sandstone, offers breathtaking views. Yet, for all Scott’s literary prowess, he never mentioned Corstorphine Hill in his works. It was Robert Louis Stevenson, in his gripping tale “Kidnapped,” who immortalized the hill. He vividly described the Rest-and-be-Thankful spot, where travelers paused to take in the vista. This spot, overlooking the Corstorphine bogs and the cityscape, became a pivotal point in Stevenson’s narrative. The irony deepens. A statue commemorating the two travelers from “Kidnapped” stands not on Corstorphine Hill, but along the main road into Edinburgh. While Corstorphine Hill Tower honors Scott, it’s Stevenson’s words that truly capture the hill’s essence. This peculiar twist of literary fate adds another layer of intrigue to Corstorphine Hill Tower. As you admire its sturdy structure, remember the untold stories and the quiet irony whispering through the stones.