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All the United Kingdom Scotland South Ayrshire Electric Brae Gravity Hill Illusion

Electric Brae Gravity Hill Illusion

An optical Illusion once believed to be an electrical phenomenon.

South Ayrshire, Scotland

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isbsey
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Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 by John Phillips   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electric...
Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 by John Phillips   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electric...
Electric Brae, Ayrshire, Scotland   owned postcard
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About

Named "The Electric Brae" by Victorians, this cliffside road was thought to be pulled by the "electricity" of the offshore island of Arran because when you think you are going up, you are actually going down, and vice versa. Electricity was a new enough phenomenon that many unusual things were attributed mysterious "electrical" properties. A roadside marker reads:

"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 A.O.D.) to the east.

Whilst there is this slope of 1 in 86 upwards from the bend to 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' dates from a time when it was incorrectly thought to be a phenomenon caused by electric or magnetic attraction within the Brae."

Known as a "gravity hill" it is actually a type natural optical illusion. The curve of the vergeside of the cliff road gives the impression of the elevation but it is opposite to what actually is. The road is one of the more famous gravity hills, and during WWII General Eisenhower would bring guests to marvel at it.

Today, locals still have to beware of people stopped in the road amazed at their cars seemingly freewheeling uphill. Others will stop and put a ball in the middle of the road and watch it roll uphill.

 

Related Tags

Optical Oddities Optical Illusions Gravity Hill

Know Before You Go

It is on the A719 between Croy Shore and Dunure village, South Ayrshire and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

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isbsey

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, Samir S Patel

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • Samir S Patel

Published

April 9, 2012

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Electric Brae Gravity Hill Illusion
Croy
South Ayrshire, Scotland, KA19 8JS
United Kingdom
55.374498, -4.759956
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Nearby Places

Dunure Labyrinth

Dunure, Scotland

miles away

Dunure Castle

Dunure, Scotland

miles away

The Poets Path

Ayr, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Dunure Labyrinth

Dunure, Scotland

miles away

Dunure Castle

Dunure, Scotland

miles away

The Poets Path

Ayr, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 734
Stories 49

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