Edinburgh Outdoors

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, Steve brought his guitar and so we listened to his haunting and beautiful music while contemplating Arthur's Seat and the city's extraordinary geology beside the monument.   Listen to the music, find out more about how it was created and learn about the monument too, which features stones from each district of the country and was created to mark the opening of our Parliament.
Regent Road Park and the monument are HERE
To find out more about Steve's Fringe show: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-song-of-the-ice
Steve Garrett's website: https://www.stevegarrettguitar.com/
Our Living Rivers and Glens here: https://deedonceilidhcollective.com/our-living-rivers-and-glens
You can read more about the Stones of Scotland here: https://edinburghgeolsoc.org/geological-site/stones-of-scotland/
Steve's book "A Suitable Stone": https://stevegarrettguitar.com/a-suitable-stone-book
And we referenced the excellent Hamish Napier (I'm his biggest fan!) and his new album: https://hamishnapier.bandcamp.com/album/the-hill
 
 
 
 

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 transforming lives through the outdoors and creating an oasis within swathes of largescale farmland. 
The garden has an open day 12-4pm on Sunday 23 August 2026 when you can go along and visit, enjoy tea by the pond and then buy some produce to take home. 
You can find more details about Growing Matters here: https://www.growingmatters.org.uk/
And on their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growingatgilmerton/
The location is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVo7XcmxBbZcCgHa9
You can see pictures on my Substack:  https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
And on Instagram: @edinburgh.outdoors_
And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/
 

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 and then relocated to Victoria Park in early 2026.
I met Luke to find out how you design a garden and then move it across the country to create something completely new.  We also talked about gardening for climate change, the benefits of community and his love of the outdoors.  
Drakkar's Drift is HERE
Luke Coleman Gardens are here: https://www.lukecoleman.co.uk/
You can see pictures of the garden on my Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/
and also on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_
 

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 crossed bridges: Great Junction Street, Sandport and Victoria Swing Bridge
You can view the barrages that collect waste HERE
The beautiful wee garden is HERE
FOWLB has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheWaterOfLeithBasin/
Hilary's Wildlife page is here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hilarys-wildlife/61580799722901/
You can also volunteer on some other projects via the Water of Leith Conservation Trust: https://www.waterofleith.org.uk/
You can find my previous episode with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust: https://edinburghoutdoors.podbean.com/e/hugging-trees-on-the-water-of-leith/
Pictures can be viewed on my Substack page https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
There is also Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_
And a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/

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, this is the episode for you!  If you aren't, you may still enjoy the gardening, chicken and Edinburgh chat ...
Emily gardens at the Collective on Calton Hill and you can see the garden HERE
For photographs check out my Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
Edinburgh Outdoors is also on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/
And even sometimes on TikTok! @edinburgh.outdoor
 

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 the garden and see the mosaic: HERE
Follow GreenFerry on Facebook and find about volunteering too: https://www.facebook.com/GreenFerrySQ/
Learn more about Scotland's Garden Scheme: https://scotlandsgardens.org/
View pictures of the site and work behind its restoration on the Edinburgh Outdoors Substack page: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
You can also follow Edinburgh Outdoors on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_

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 Waverley Station and heads down Leith Walk to Leith Central Station.  On our way Tim read extracts from Trainspotting and gave insights into how the locations have changed since the 80s and we talked drug dealing, why the book has its name, interviewing dealers in prison and a range of hair-raising anecdotes. 
If you want to follow in our footsteps:
Calton Road entrance to the station is HERE
The Playhouse is HERE
Albert Street is HERE
The Boundary Bar is HERE
The former Tommy Younger's pub is now the Harp & Castle: HERE
Leith Central Station facade is HERE
Leith Dockers' Club is HERE
You can find photographs of Leith Central Station on Capital Collections or on former guest, Kenneth Williamson's site: https://www.trainbuff.net/
To read Tim Bell's book: https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/books/?prod_bibliographic_data%5Bquery%5D=choose+life+choose+leith
His website is here: https://www.leithwalks.co.uk/
As always, my substack has reviews and pictures from some of my episodes: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
 

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 water factory ghost sign HERE
We viewed the former Redpath Brown factory on Albion Road HERE
The former shop at Sunnyside is viewed from Bothwell St HERE
The printwork and houses on Edina Place HERE
The Abbeyhill Colonies are HERE
You can view a copy of the railway map on Edinphoto 
To read Hetty's article on the Colonies and see old photographs: https://www.colonyofartists.co.uk/history
You can find Hetty's History Walks on her website: https://www.hettyshistorywalks.co.uk/
 
 

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 and a wander round this beautiful space, Alan told me about his passion for spoon carving and how he teaches his craft.  
Listen in for some terrific background bird sounds and to find out more about this garden - once a local's secret, but now attracting thousands of visitors each year.  The garden is signposted from the Duddingston Kirk car park or from the Causeway in the village.  
Find Dr Neil's Garden HERE
For What3Words: https://w3w.co/blaze.gold.rapid
The garden has a website: https://www.drneilsgarden.co.uk/
And is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drneilsgarden/
Alan's Alien Spoon carving is here: https://alienspoons.co.uk/
 
 

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 the graveyard.  From the Agatha Christie to bodysnatching, I discovered fascinating stories in a beautiful location that's really worth a visit.
To visit the Kirkyard:  HERE 
Amongst others, Charlotte has written a book - The Graveyards & Cemeteries of Edinburgh: HERE
You can find Charlotte on her Instagram, The Death Historian: https://www.instagram.com/the_death_historian/