B6370

The B6370 is a rural B-road in East Lothian.

Pitcox

The route starts at a T junction on the B6355 to the east of Gifford and climbs up past a farm to the routes summit of 192m. This is marked by a trigpoint buried in the hedge on the left, and two large wind turbines in the field alongside. From here the route drifts very slowly downhill, as it heads northeastwards across open fields and past patches of woodland. From time to time there are some fine views out across the rolling hills, before the hedgerows close in again. For the first few miles the road is fairly straight, indeed the final mile of this gentle descent is a long straight. It starts off relatively flat and open before eventually becoming what is essentially a narrow, sunken lane through trees. This then comes to an end at a T-junction, where the B6370 has to TOTSO right to cross Papple Bridge over the infant Whittinghame Water. A gentle winding climb through trees suddenly becomes quite steep, lifting the route up on to the hillside high above the valley floor.

A series of short tree lined straight then cross the summit of this section, and briefly turn it north through a much larger plantation. After emerging from the trees, there are glimpses through gaps in the hedge across to the coast, with the rocky hump of the Bass Rock visible off to the north. The road then descends steeply down to cross the Sauchet Water on an old stone bridge, from where a short climb leads into the pretty village of Stenton. It goes along the village's main street, which is lined with old houses built from the local red sandstone, many of which are roofed with red pantiles giving a very monochrome, but pleasant, feel. The tall gothic tower of the parish church is a prominent landmark towards the further end of the village, after which the route passes a few more houses before re-entering open country. At the end of a short straight it bends sharply right, before curving back to the northeast.

A sinuous section between fields and strips of woodland soon leads to the hamlet of Pitcox, where the road bends round to the left and begins its final descent. This continues vaguely northwards as it drops towards the Biel Water, but doesn't enter the steep valley floor. It meanders gently across the fields past Belton House and the surrounding scattering of houses and farms to end at Thistly Cross Roundabout, where it meets the A1 and A199.

History

The northern end of the B6370 before the A1 was dualled

Before the A1 was dualled the B6370 crossed it at-grade slightly further east. It then continued along Stenton Road into West Barns before bearing left into School Brae and ending on the A1087 Edinburgh Road. This section has now been declassified; the road no longer exists at all south of the A1 and the section to the north is now closed to traffic except within West Barns itself.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Townhead - Stenton - West Barns