The Electric Brae

We took our English/Australian friend for a wee run along the coast and stopped at the Electric Brae. "The 'Electric Brae', known locally as Croy Brae. This runs the quarter mile from the bend overlooking Croy railway viaduct in the west (286 feet Above Ordnance Datum) to the wooded Craigencroy Glen (303 feet above A.O.D.) to the east.
Whilest there is this slope of 1 in 86 upwards from the bend at the Glen, the configuration of the land on either side of the road provides an optical illusion making it look as if the slope is going the other way.
Therefore, a stationary car on the road with the brakes off will appear to move slowly uphill.
The term 'Electric Brae' dates from a time when it was incorrectly thought to be a phenomenon caused by electric or magnetic attraction within the Brae."

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Electric
• Brae
• Croy
• Ayr
• Dunure
• Ayrshire
• Scotland
• scottish

[Sema4UK]

I remember visiting this place with my parents and my older brothers when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My brother brought a football and when we got out the car, he kicked the ball 'down' hill, and it rolled back up the hill to where we were standing, it was at the time, the most mesmerising thing I had ever seen and one of those things I will never forget. I really must go again one day and see if it's just as I remember it, it's only about an hour from the house, no excuses not to really :-)

[Hank2wheels]

@Sema4UK Go mad and take a run down the coast, it's a fantastic bike run.

[suburbanryder]

Very nice optical illusion.

[Hank2wheels]

@suburbanryder We have a lot of fun taking visitors to see the Electric Brae.

[larrythelookout]

i could lay the wife down on that road. and roll marbles down her back.

[Hank2wheels]

@larrythelookout And watch them roll back up again.

[Hank2wheels]

@gpzDave Great run down the coast from Ayr to Girvan and beyond, well worth a visit on the Beemer.

[gpzDave]

Awesome! I've never been there myself yet, looks interesting.

[Hank2wheels]

@lauriejennifer You really need to be there for the full experience, it is really freaky on a bicycle when you almost come to halt freewheeling for what you think is downhill.

[Hank2wheels]

@RedanWhiteRebel This is truly a magic road Ger, with views across the Firth of Clyde to Arran and Mull of Kintyre. We even got a wee glimpse of Ireland from the viewpoint.

[KeukaRyder]

Interesting. FYI:Roman aqueducts ran 1:3000 over 150 miles.

I like your end piece. It looks like something I saw on a BBC show.:->