The Coal Trail

In October 1984, Coal News reported that Scotland's new National Mining Museum was based on two sites linked by a unique '800 years of coal' heritage trail.

Prestoungrange colliery, saved from oblivion by its last General Manager and first Honorary Curator, David Spence, was joined by the Lady Victoria Colliery at Newtoungrange.

Since that time Prestoungrange has literally fallen off the Coal Trail and all the attention has gone to Newtoungrange which is now styled as 'The' Scottish Mining Museum. Prestonpans certainly wishes it good luck, but we are also determined to resurrect the Coal Trail as a tourist feature and encourage visitors to either end of the Coal Trail to journey all the way.

Significantly for the Prestoungrange Arts Festival, the early museum contained mainly excellent illustrations by Mrs Annette Lyle and their Mural panels With the assistance of the curator at Newtoungrange they have been retrieved.

In 2004 Prestoungrange Arts Festival revised and published a new Coal Trail leaflet. It has efocused a great deal of attention and starts with The Dean Tavern and ends at The Prestoungrange Gothenburg.