Edinburgh Outdoors

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

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 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