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Edinburgh Outdoors

angelacasey

Edinburgh Outdoors is a podcast exploring the city’s green spaces and the people in them. From community gardens to secret spaces, learning about the city’s history or just finding a space to breathe, getting outside brings benefit to everyone, and being outdoors in Edinburgh is the best place to be!

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24 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 30 min
English

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S7 · E1
October 6 · 31 min
West Port Garden: a hidden gem
West Port Garden is a true hidden gem that that I went to discover with local resident, Jennie Renton. Set at the west end of the Grassmarket behind railings then climbing up the hill from the busy street, it's a remarkable place. Originally created as one of Edinburgh's late victorian 'slum gardens' aimed at bringing nature experiences to local kids, the garden is now an oasis for visitors and locals alike. Join me as I discover the history of this amazing garden, the idea of philanthropist, sociologist and town planner, Patrick Geddes, then designed and created by his talented daughter landscape architect, Norah Geddes. You can visit the garden on Sundays between 2pm and 4pm and on other days when the volunteers are there. The garden is HERE: And on What3Words: https://w3w.co/month.wiping.skin The Grassmarket Residents Association, known as Grass, manages the space: https://grassmarketresidents.org/west-port-garden/ You can find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassmarketresidentsassoc/ You can view pictures of my visit on the Edinburgh Outdoors Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/ And also on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_ And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors
S6 · E10
September 14 · 32 min
Lauriston Allotments: mud huts, pizzas and hedgehogs
Lauriston Allotments, part of Lauriston Agroecology Farm, host multi-cultural gardening and the most vibrant community of gardeners. I met with Lisa Houston to discover how this location has become a hub and home for a diverse range of people. We explored the many wildlife spots and she explained how they'd built a mud kitchen and pizza oven. Join my exploration of this unique space and its multi-cultural gardening, with many surprises along the way. Lauriston partners with the Granton Community Gardeners who I interviewed in the previous podcast. The allotments are located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bTcZ1wXK3jUHDsaK9 The community growing is online: https://www.lauristonfarm.scot/what-we-do/community-growing/ They have a Facebook pagehttps: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghAgCoop/ And you can view my photographs and video on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/ Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/
S6 · E9
September 8 · 33 min
Growing in Granton
Granton Community Growers is a wonderful example of a neighbourhood initiative that started small and then grew beautifully in ambition. From a one-off meet-up, when a group got together to dig up a street corner, to a sourdough bakery producing pay-what-you-can bread, many street corners now in production, and a garden where people come together to cook and eat, this is real community in action. To the backdrop of the most delicious food smells, I met with Tom Kirby who told me how he started the project and how it's grown and developed over the years. Work is also funded through an initiative called Sowing our Horizons which was created by Marie Amelie Viatte, so she also came along to sit with us in the garden to talk about how community growing is more than just an initiative, but is a way to create new communities and address overreliance on food systems. Granton Community Garden is HERE You can view the corner plots created by locals all over this area, including THIS ONE You can find out more here: https://www.grantoncommunitygardeners.org/ This is where you can buy bread on a Saturday at 73 Boswell Parkway: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XzarEpGDTAJiJmCx8 Sowing our Horizons is here, where you can find out more: https://www.sowingourhorizons.org/ You can see pictures from my visit on Instagram - @edinburghoutdoors_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/ and on my Substack: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/
S6 · E8
August 25 · 32 min
Greyfriars Kirkyard: History, Harry and Hutton
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a tourist hotspot with millions visiting each year to seek out Harry Potter graves, poltergeists and the much-loved Greyfriar's Bobby. I met with the brilliant Mark Hatton of the Friends of the Kirkyard to find out much more about the space, its history and heritage. Dating back to an original group of farming friars, for centuries the Kirkyard was Edinburgh's only green space and it's packed full of interesting history which is well worth discovering. The Kirkyard is HERE Find Friends of Greyfriars here: https://fogk.org/ And they are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/188879245722935 For old images, Capital Collections is a good place to start: https://www.capitalcollections.org.uk/ You can see my photographs and images on Instagram: @edinburghoutdoors_ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edinburghoutdoors/ Check out my Substack where I write up some visits and post photographs: https://edinburghoutdoors.substack.com/p/edinburgh-outdoors-podcast
S6 · E7
August 13 · 29 min
Scotland's Stones monument and the Song of the Ice
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
S6 · E6
August 4 · 31 min
Growing Matters walled garden in East Lothian
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/
S6 · E5
July 27 · 33 min
Drakkar's Drift with Luke Coleman
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_
S6 · E4
July 14 · 32 min
Walking the Water of Leith Basins
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/
S6 · E3
June 30 · 29 min
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
S5 · E2
June 17 · 25 min
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_
S6 · E1
June 2 · 30 min
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
S5 · E10
May 12 · 31 min
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/
S5 · E9
April 28 · 29 min
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/
S5 · E8
April 14 · 33 min
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/
S5 · E7
March 31 · 33 min
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
S5 · E6
March 30 · 26 min
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
S5 · E5
March 9 · 29 min
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
S5 · E4
February 24 · 32 min
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/
S5 · E3
February 10 · 26 min
Talking trees in Binning Wood
Binning Wood is in East Lothian beyond North Berwick and is a historic wood. Once used to build warplanes and then replanted after the war, it's packed full of different trees and was an ideal location for my walk with Jean Nairn. Binning is home to wide walkways through native trees, a beautiful green burial site and little hidden spaces. Jean worked in forestry and while she still works with trees, it's now in a very different - and fascinating - way. We headed out into Binning to enjoy nature sights and sounds and to find out more about Jean and her love of trees. You can find Binning Wood HERE Jean's Woodlands Breathing site can be found here: https://www.woodlandsbreathing.co.uk/ Find out more about green burials at Binning: https://www.binningwood.co.uk/
S5 · E2
January 27 · 31 min
Breathing new life into Gorgie Community Farm
Gorgie City Farm is remembered fondly by everyone. Now re-emerged as Gorgie Community Farm, the location is being revitalised by a new team. As trustees, gardeners and volunteers breathe life into the space, focusing initially on the community garden, it's packed full of potential to bring back an essential green space for the area. I went along to meet the people transforming it, to find out what they've been doing and to talk about the future. As volunteers return and we head towards Spring, it was a great time to find out what's planned. The site is HERE To find out more: https://gorgiecommunityfarm.co.uk/ The team has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GorgieCommunityFarm/ And an Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorgiecommunityfarm/ And if you are interested in gardener Johanna's journey through the garden, she has an Instagram too: https://www.instagram.com/gorgiefarmgarden

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