Edinburgh Outdoors

• A Stockbridge Stroll with Hetty's History Walks

  How often when walking round Edinburgh do you look up?  Podcast regular, Hetty Lancaster of Hetty's History Walks, took me on a walk around Stockbridge in the north of the city, to look at historic gems hidden in plain sight.  From the original Stockbridge Market and the history of market gardening to the ornate and bizarre gateposts around the original Inverleith Estate, we discovered things you may walk past every day, but never notice. We started out at Duncansland HERE We walked down the Water of Leith from HERE The Falshaw Bridge is HERE You can find the picture we discuss on the Capital Collections website HERE The gateposts with the strange lions are HERE Plant Alley and the boating pond is HERE The Sundial Garden is HERE The final gateposts are opposite the John Hope Gateway HERE Hetty's History Walks organises group and private walks around the city: https://www.hettyshistorywalks.co.uk/    

  --------  

  33:36

  --------

  33:36
• Park Life on Montgomery Street

  Find out about the brilliant Friends of Montgomery Street Park who have brought real joy to  volunteering.  I went along to see how a Council owned park between Leith Walk and Easter Road has been transformed into a wildlife spot and a haven for local residents.  A former bowling green, the site now has fruit trees, a wildflower meadow, spring bulbs and a rejuvenated playpark.  The team has also created a groundbreaking community magazine, Parklife, working with local artists, journalists, writers and designers to produce a stunning publication. My visit began finding out about Parklife and volunteering, then ended with a great conversation about "Ecotherapy", getting married on Calton Hill and as always, some favourite spots across the city.  Montgomery Street Park is HERE The artist who has transformed the helter skelter into artworks is Paul Meikle: https://paulypocket.com/about/ Follow or find out more about the Friends of Montgomery Street Park HERE They are also on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montgomerystreetpark    

  --------  

  31:14

  --------

  31:14
• Siccar Point and the Deep Time Trail

  Siccar Point near Cockburnspath is a stunning viewpoint where Father of Geology James Hutton, found evidence to support his theories which influenced modern day geology.  It's a great walk with superb views and is going to be transformed through a project spearheaded by the Edinburgh Geological Society.    The project will bring improved access and interpretation for visitors and its launch will coincide with the James Hutton Tercentenary in 2026. I stepped out along the cliffs with podcast regular, geologist Angus Miller, to find out why Siccar Point is so significant and to learn more about the crowdfunding campaign for this important project.  To find out more about James Hutton, his influence and the Tercentenary, visit: https://james-hutton.org/ To read about the project, the crowdfunder, the Dynamic Earth event and how you can get hold of some of the 'rewards': https://edinburghgeolsoc.org/support-the-deep-time-trail/ The crowdfunder, including a film about the site, is HERE To learn about the James Hutton Insititute: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/ The Scottish Geology Trust is here: https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/ Angus and I met HERE And the viewpoint is HERE  

  --------  

  24:30

  --------

  24:30
• Birdwatching with the Treecreepers

  The Treecreepers is a fairly new birdwatching and nature group for 18-35 year olds organised by conservationist and bird expert, El.  I headed up Corstorphine Hill with El to see if we could spot any birds and listen to their sounds.  While there she told me about the group, why she set it up and its popularity.  We also talked about roles for young people in conservation, her love of the outdoors and why Corstorphine Hill is a great place to visit. The birds we heard/saw: buzzard; nuthatch; long tailed tit; blue tit; goldcrest; chiffchaff; chaffinch; goldfinch. We met at the entrance on Corstorphine Road: HERE  The Treecreepers on Instagram: @the_treecreepers The Treecreepers on Substack: https://thetreecreepers.substack.com/ Please email El if you have any secondhand binoculars you are happy to gift to her groups: mailto:[email protected] You can read my occasional Substack thoughts and view pictures of the recordings here: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/ Edinburgh Outdoors is also on Instagram and Facebook     

  --------  

  32:05

  --------

  32:05
• Discovering Granton While Walking Like a Tortoise

  Join me for an interesting afternoon with Tamsin Grainger discovering all about Granton's history.  As I become more fascinated by the area and it's special character, it was good to find out more about its past.  Join us as we head out to walk along the shore seeing seals, brick beaches and quirky statues while we delve into stories of the area and what draws Tamsin to the outdoors.  And find the history behind 'walking like a tortoise'. We met at Wardie Bay HERE We visited the Pianodrome HERE The sailor statues are HERE The 'brick beach' is HERE The Pitt and sauna is HERE You can read Tamsin's material on the links below: www.tamsingrainger.com and walkingwithoutadonkey.com She was winner of the Walk•Listen•Create Marŝarto Award 2024 LINK And Tamsin is author of 'Working with Death and Loss in Shiatsu Practice, a guide to holistic bodywork in palliative care' (Singing Dragon, 2020).  LINK Bluesky: @walknodonkey.bsky.social Instagram: tamsinshiatsu  

  --------  

  31:17

  --------

  31:17

More Health & Wellness podcasts

Trending Health & Wellness podcasts

About Edinburgh Outdoors