Edinburgh Outdoors

Behind the Scenes: Scotland's Home (and garden) of the Year

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
 

South Queensferry Mosaic and Garden

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_

In the footsteps of 'Trainspotting' with Tim Bell

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
 

Abbeyhill and Colonies with Hetty Lancaster

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 and spoon carving

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 with death historian Charlotte Golledge

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/
 
 

A Treasure Hunt: Finding the Trinity Stones

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 Lancaster and Jill Harrison as I learn more about the church, the stones and we head out to see what we can find. 
The podcast starts at the church built with only a third of the original stones, The Trinity Apse (NB you cannot currently go inside): HERE.
We also view stones in the courtyard of the Museum of Edinburgh: HERE
And others in Greyfriars Kirkyard: HERE
You can also see more at the National Museum of Scotland: HERE
The Trinity Stones website: https://www.revivingthetrinitystones.co.uk/
The link to the crowdfunding: https://www.gofundme.com/f/revive-the-trinity-stones-a-precious-part-of-old-edinburgh
The Old Edinburgh Club website: https://oldedinburghclub.org.uk/
Hetty's History Walks website: https://www.hettyshistorywalks.co.uk/
The Trinity Project: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/trinitynetwork/the-trinity-network-who-are-we/
Read more on my Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
 
 

Railways and memories with 'Train Buff' Kenneth Williamson

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 railway line/driveway is HERE
Davidson's Mains Park is HERE
The old well is HERE
The Maitland Bowling Club is HERE
The skew bridge is HERE
 
 
 

Midhope Castle: Behind the Scenes at Lallybroch

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 working to enhance the visitor experience and welcome the many thousands who make the pilgrimage to Jamie's home. 
I went behind the scenes of Lallybroch to hear some filming secrets, get a special peek inside the building and to discover many of the filming locations around the site.  I met the team responsible for creating a visitor experience and I enjoyed the romance and mystery of this really special and historic building. 
You can visit Midhope / Lallybroch HERE
There is a website with more information: https://www.midhopecastle.com/
Hopetoun Estate has a section about Outlander filming locations and a map to help you find them HERE
The woodland walk with Jamie's cave and other locations is HERE
Abercorn Church can be found HERE 
You can enjoy a beautiful walk from Blackness Castle (another Outlander location) to Abercorn and Midhope along the John Muir Way, starting HERE

Nature and discovery in Astley Ainsley

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 greenspace and ensuring it remains available for recuperation and recreation, in line with its original purpose.
Join me on a wander around the site, discovering its long history, its unique spaces and listening to some incredible bird sounds.
You can access the site from Morningside or Grange HERE
The Astley Ainsley Community Trust website is here: https://www.aact.scot/