The mysterious Scots road where cars appear to roll uphill loved by US President

Scotland is home to countless weird and wonderful attractions.

From the ancient stone monument found in the middle of a housing estate to a “truly mesmerising” amethyst cave, no matter where in the country you are you aren’t likely to be too far from an amazing oddity. One of the strangest has to be Electric Brae.

Situated in South Ayrshire, this is a one-of-a-kind stretch of road where cars appear to roll uphill. Appearing to defy gravity, it really does look like vehicles are pulled upwards by an unseen force.

For a long time, Scots had no idea what was causing this strange phenomenon. Some believed it had to do with electromagnetic forces, hence the name Electric Brae.

In reality, though, it is just a trick of the eye. Electric Brae is actually a gravity hill, which is a term that refers to a place where the lay of the land creates an optical illusion.

One end of the brae sits 17 feet higher than the other, creating a gentle slope. Due to the configuration of terrain, though, it actually appears to slope in the opposite direction — which is what causes the visual illusion of cars rolling uphill.

The phenomenon is so convincing that is has brought fans far and wide to see it for themselves over the years. One of these was none other than then-future President of the United States Dwight D Eisenhower back in the 1940s, while he was stationed at the nearby base of Culzean Castle during the Second World War.

Posting on Facebook, one Scot shared a photograph of a commemorative stone tablet that now stands at this unexpected tourist hotspot. Since being posted, Valerie Strawn’s image has received hundreds of likes and dozens of comments — with many Facebook users eager to share their thoughts.

One wrote: “Tried it a few times, heard it was an optical illusion but it seemed real enough. Kids loved it.”

A second reminisced: “Loved it as a kid. Must take my kids there.”

“An integral part of my childhood,” a third reflected, while another added: “Loved this as a kid, it was magic!”.

For those keen to experience the one-of-a-kind illusion for themselves, Electric Brae can be found on a quarter-mile stretch of road known by locals as Croy Brae. South Ayrshire Council has even provided a layby for curious visitors to safely try out the phenomenon.

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