Edinburgh Outdoors

I joined Hetty Lancaster of Hetty's History Walks to visit Calton Hill after it featured in the recent BBC programme, a House Through Time.   We viewed the house from the programme, dropped by the tiny cut off piece of Old Calton Hill Burial Ground and then walked round the top of the hill to see the views.  Hetty, as always, brought the history of Calton Hill to life with an insight into how the...

West Port Garden is a true hidden gem that that I went to discover with local resident, Jennie Renton.  Set at the west end of the Grassmarket behind railings then climbing up the hill from the busy street, it's a remarkable place. Originally created as one of Edinburgh's late victorian 'slum gardens' aimed at bringing nature experiences to local kids, the garden is now an oasis for visitors and l...

Lauriston Allotments, part of Lauriston Agroecology Farm, host multi-cultural gardening and the most vibrant community of gardeners.   I met with Lisa Houston to discover how this location has become a hub and home for a diverse range of people.  We explored the many wildlife spots and she explained how they'd built a mud kitchen and pizza oven. Join my exploration of this unique space and its mul...

Granton Community Growers is a wonderful example of a neighbourhood initiative that started small and then grew beautifully in ambition. From a one-off meet-up, when a group got together to dig up a street corner, to a sourdough bakery producing pay-what-you-can bread, many street corners now in production, and a garden where people come together to cook and eat, this is real community in action....

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a tourist hotspot with millions visiting each year to seek out Harry Potter graves, poltergeists and the much-loved Greyfriar's Bobby.  I met with the brilliant Mark Hatton of the Friends of the Kirkyard to find out much more about the space, its history and heritage.    Dating back to an original group of farming friars, for centuries the Kirkyard was Edinburgh's only green...

Steve Garrett, musician, artist, writer and geo scientist is performing in this year's Fringe: The Song of the Ice at St Mark's Church on 13-15; 18-20; and 26-28 August.  We met at the Scotland's Stones monument in Regent Road Garden to talk about Deep Time, creating music from carbon data, how creativity can communicate science and his time in the Antarctic. In a first for Edinburgh Outdoors, Ste...

Growing Matters is a community charity transforming the walled garden at Gilmerton House in East Lothian.  Ten years into a 25 year plan, they are bringing biodiversity, wildlife and lots of flowers and produce to a previously unloved four acre space.  With volunteers including a beekeeper, a hydrologist, a willow specialist and skilled gardeners, the garden is a wonderful community project that's...

Drakkar's Drift is a new garden set in Victoria Park on Newhaven Road and was designed by Royal Horticultural Society Young Designer of the Year, Luke Coleman.  The garden is ideal for enjoying the outdoors, running around, sitting in, or just admiring its design.  It was originally in an RHS garden show last year and with the support of its sponsor, Edinburgh Council, it has been moved, stored an...

Join me on a walk around the Water of Leith Basins to discover how the Friends group (aka FOWLB) manages the area with volunteer, swan expert, wildlife enthusiast and belly dancer, Hilary Thacker.   Hilary taught me so much about swans and their conservation and I went along with her to spot swans on the water, help feed them and to hear about the history of the area.  We met at Basin 3 HERE We cr...

Horticulturalist, Emily Hairstans, was the recent winner of Scotland's Home of the Year TV programme.  Her garden featured heavily in the judges' praise for the 'Homegrown Hoose'.  I met with Emily in her garden and with chickens clucking around us, we talked about her horticultural career and of course, some behind the scenes insights from being part of the programme.  So if you are a SHOTY fan,...

Hawthorn Bank Walled Garden in South Queensferry is home to a huge mosaic created by local people, set within a tranquil and beautiful garden. I met up with GreenFerry, the team behind local gardening and floral displays who also maintain the garden and then met Gary and Mike, the locals behind the creation of a stunning and fascinating mosaic depicting life in South Queensferry.  You can visit th...

Warning: this podcast contains adult themes and language some people might find offensive. Set in Edinburgh and Leith Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh was a book set in the 80s drug scene and was later made into a popular film.   I met up with Tim Bell, author of Choose Life, Choose Leith: Trainspotting on Location to follow a chapter of the original Irvine Welsh novel which starts at the back of Wav...

Join me as I head out with historian Hetty Lancaster of Hetty's History Walks to discover the history of Abbeyhill and its Colonies.  We toured old industrial sites, spotted ghost signs and repurposed buildings and Hetty told me all about Edinburgh's unique housing developments: the Colonies. To follow our tour yourself: We started at Meadowbank Shopping Centre and walked to the former Dunbar wate...

Dr Neil's Garden is a secret space tucked beneath Arthurs Seat and beside a loch in Duddingston.  Created on wild land by two doctors years ago, it's now a tranquil space with views, seating areas, meandering paths and a historic curling tower to discover. I met with head gardener, Alan Mitchell to find out about the garden's history and its volunteers.  After a sneak peek into the curling tower a...

St Cuthbert's Kirkyard has been a religious site since the 7th century and is one of Edinburgh's ancient graveyards.  Originally outside the ancient city walls, the Kirkyard is now right in the centre, beneath the Castle and beside Princes Street Gardens.  Often used as a local's cutthrough, it's so much more. I met with death historian, Charlotte Golledge to discover the secrets and history of th...

In this episode we head out to find lost stones from a church built in the 1400s which are now scattered across the city.  When the church was demolished to make way for Waverley Station, the Council left stones piled on Calton Hill for 30 years.  During this time many disappeared and a project funded by the Old Edinburgh Club is now finding where they went.  Join me with historians, Hetty Lancast...

Lifelong railway enthusiast and author, Kenneth Williamson, grew up in Granton.  We walked around Barnton to view old railway lines and historic buildings while talking about his life and memories.   Kenneth's website: https://www.trainbuff.net/ We met in Silverknowes The old Goods Yard (now Tesco) HERE The former Station Master's house HERE   The entrance to Royal High School and the view of the...

Midhope Castle on the Hopetoun Estate is an old tower house packed full of history. To many people it is better known as Lallybroch, the beautiful and atmospheric ancestral home of Jamie Fraser in the Outlander TV series.   Once a bin store and farmyard, the Midhope has become incredibly popular with Outlander fans and people keen to seek out filming locations.  The team at Hopetoun has been worki...

The Astley Ainsley hospital site is a large area of green space in the south of the city.  With wild areas, protected buildings and teeming with wildlife, it's a surprisingly special space.  The Astley Ainsley Community Trust is working to protect the area as the NHS is moving out of some of it and parts of the site will be sold.  There are plans for retaining its wildness, creating community gree...

Binning Wood is in East Lothian beyond North Berwick and is a historic wood.  Once used to build warplanes and then replanted after the war, it's packed full of different trees and was an ideal location for my walk with Jean Nairn.  Binning is home to wide walkways through native trees, a beautiful green burial site and little hidden spaces.  Jean worked in forestry and while she still works with...

Gorgie City Farm is remembered fondly by everyone.  Now remerged as Gorgie Community Farm, the location is being revitalised by a new team.  As trustees, gardeners and volunteers breathe life into the space, focusing initially on the community garden, it's packed full of potential to bring back an essential green space for the area.  I went along to meet the people transforming it, to find out wha...

Easter and Wester Craiglockhart Hills are part of Edinburgh's Seven Hills.  In the south of the city, Easter Craiglockhart is a nature reserve and is teeming with wildlife, great views and a strong volunteer group. Join me as I find out how the excellent volunteering team on Easter Craiglockhart Hill has been transforming the site with new trees, spring flowers and an island for the pond.  Listen...

Princes Street Gardens right in the centre of Edinburgh beneath the Castle is a public park with a long history.  It was formerly a loch and was drained to remove the stench of the city's sewage and to create a park for residents.   It's now a popular spot, so I headed into the Gardens with Hetty Lancaster of Hetty's History Walks to find out more about the park's history. A regular guest expert o...

Edinburgh Sketcher is part of the fabric of the city.  He captures the everyday moments, events and views that represent Edinburgh life.  I met him on Calton Hill and watched as he created a journal sketch of our conversation and the views we were enjoying while talking.   He gave a great insight into how he thinks through a drawing and talks about career change and gives brilliant top tips for ca...

Join me as I head off foraging in the Hermitage of Braid woodlands with the brilliant Hana Koen.  Find out all about the fascinating funghi we found, their medicinal properties and culinary flavours and discover how many are hiding in plain sight.  We wandered through the very cold and sunny November sunshine and talked about mushrooms, dealing with an autism diagnosis and Hanna gave a great expla...