Edinburgh Outdoors

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/

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