Images free for personal non-commercial use only ©
Dave Henniker Recent updates include:
(The most recent work is at the top of this page, older stuff is further down. You may need to refresh the page - try F5)
3 amazing videos - (not my work)
New page 15th July Grange Road and the Grange Cemetery etc
New page 9th July Nature Page 12 Wildlife at the Pentlands - A heron preens, dragonflies mate.
New page 6th July Fife Coastal Path from Burntisland to Kinghorn
New page 6th July Fife Coastal Path from Aberdour to Burntisland
New page 6th July Fife Coastal Path through and around Aberdour
New page 5th July Water of Leith from Source to Shore Compilation (across districts) UPDATED again 23rd August
New page 30th June Union Canal - East to West Compilation (across districts) UPDATED 21st July
Loanhead Music Festival - Songwriting Competition
Winners
New Page 6th June Meadows Festival
New Page 2nd June Botanic Gardens in
InfraRed
New Page 26th April Tollcross - Fountainbridge
area page 10
New Page 17th April Royal Mile page 11 Wide
angle shots of High
Street closes, Camera Obscura views
4 New Pages 14th April
Fife Coastal Path from North Queensferry
to Inverkeithing
Fife Coastal Path from Inverkeithing to Dalgety Bay
Fife Coastal Path from Dalgety Bay to Oil Terminal
Fife Coastal Path from Oil Terminal to Aberdour
New Page 24th March Recreational Ice Skates What are recreational ice
skates anyway?
New Page 20th March Dean Village page 2 Belford Road, Dean Gallery
New Page 14th March Local page 12 A walk through
Roslin Glen
When YouTube shuts down at night
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Notable partial updates are shown below:
From Pentlands Swanston page
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Swanston Vegetation vs |
As a former electronic engineer I appreciate the neat symmetry and craftsmanship. However, assuming the vegetation continues to grow unchecked, rain on it will compromise the insulation and the transformer may be shorted out leading to power cuts at least - and maybe an impressive explosion. How will golfers cope if their electric buggies can't be charged up? They'll have to walk! |
From Pentlands Caerketton page
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Scree 01 1280 x 692 292K |
The morning sunshine picked out the detail of Caerketton's scree slopes well. |
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Scree 03 1280 x 782 304K |
A closer look at the scree further to the right, showing one of the steep paths. |
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Information Map 1280 x 958 384K |
If you're coming from Swanston then this notice is full of useful information and a pictorial map. For a larger version click here. |
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Juniper Sign 1280 x 852 305K |
All about the Juniper tree and its uses in illegal whisky stills etc. A native conifer tree badly affected by grazing rabbits and sheep. |
From Arthur's Seat
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Crags Path IR 1280 x 923 364K |
An infra red view of the path up the top of Salisbury Crags, ascending from the Holyrood end. A sunny day at the end of August 2010. |
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Arthur's Seat 89 1280 x 850 500K |
Looking at the easier path up Arthur's Seat as seen from the crags. |
From The Grange
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An atypical vehicle for The Grange, even in its main north-south route of Blackford Avenue. | |
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Closer inspection reveals that not only is this a van with 'attitude' - it spells out its attitude with this 'PARKING SHMARKING NOTICE'. It continues with a claim that there's a method of avoiding parking tickets but this link is inconclusive. |
From Leith page 18
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Much photographed but rarely from this angle. | |
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The Cube is now finished but not fully occupied. An unobstructed choice of 3 routes is available: Calton Hill on the left, Calton Road in the centre, or up Leith Street to Princes Street. August 2010. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond page Br2
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Between Barclay Church and a filling station is this fine 19th century tenement. | |
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Interesting light in the view from our window made me reach for my camera. Looking over Merchiston towards Sighthill. | |
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A wider view showing oblique shafts of sunlight. |
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The site has lain empty for years since the big fire but something is being built. It looks like a temporary structure for an Edinburgh Fringe event. July 2010. | |
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August 2010 and the area has indeed been put to good use for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
From Gorgie, Dalry, Haymarket page 3
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The tiny, wedge-shaped house on the edge of the former railway bridge. The balcony should afford fine views over the Western Approach Road. | |
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Diagonally opposite and sharing similar geometry, exaggerated by a wide angle lens. |
From Usher Hall page
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Usher Hall 13 1280 x 855 292K |
23rd September 2009 and the wraps are coming off the refurbished building. I grabbed this chance to photograph the steps while they're in pristine condition. The ultrawide fisheye lens also captures The Traverse Theatre and the former HMSO behind the remaining portacabins. |
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Usher
Hall 14 1280 x 845 242K |
This second fisheye picture was taken from the top of the steps. |
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Usher Hall 17 1280 x 848 223K |
August 2010 and the months (years?) of work seem to be finished. Personally, I quite like the setts or tiles on the ground - but the glass wall looks like a temporary thing to me. |
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Usher Hall 18 1280 x 819 209K |
That irritating clock which seldom worked has been replaced by these slabs in front of the Usher Hall beside Lothian Road, |
From Tollcross - Fountainbridge area page 7
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Morrison St 11 1280 x 808 318K |
August 2010 and a massive hole-in-the-ground has appeared next to Scottish Widows and the round EICC building. |
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Morrison St 12 1280 x 839 335K |
These photos taken from beside the fully automated robot carpark that's never been used since its construction years ago. |
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Morrison St 14 1033 x 1080 293K |
Looking over the railing on the elevated area which extends to the Clydesdale Bank Plaza at the back of the Sheraton Hotel and Festival Square. More Morrison Street pictures at the Haymarket end in Gorgie, Dalry, Haymarket page 3 |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond - Meadows, Merchiston, Midmar, Morningside
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FALKO KONDITORMEISTER proclaims the lettering on this retro vehicle. Their local Bruntsfield establishment isn't far away - go left round the corner from Merchiston Park into Merchiston Place then across Bruntsfield Place. |
From Water of Leith
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Looking down the steps from the Cycle Path - Roseburn end. |
From Edinburgh West page 8 - Between Polwarth and Murrayfield
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Two strange little tenements sandwiched between the more common 4 storey blocks. This one-way street is compulsory for drivers descending Henderson Terrace and not entering Gorgie Road, but a few make illegal turns across the Green Man pedestrian signals. | |
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There hadn't even been that much rain. Photographed a few weeks after the previous flood. | |
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Not even a drop in the ocean compared to Pakistan or China's floods, but unnecessary considering the public money being spent at this site on the allegedly forthcoming trams. Photographed in August 2010. | |
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A few items juxtaposed here aren't normally seen together. This view from the cyclepath shows an LRT bus on the Western Approach Road. The gantries in front are for electric trains; the bigger ones behind are Tynecastle Stadium. Craiglockhart Campus is backed by Howden Glen and White Hill in the Pentlands. | |
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Used by cricketers, this pavilion got a new paint job in 2010. I decided to photograph it because it's bound to be vandalised by adolescent males who can't make their mark on the world except by clumsy scrawls. Rarely do I see any good grafitti. |
From Pentlands Capelaw and also Nature page 12
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Mountain Biker 1280 x 805 324K |
On the more gentle eastern slopes of Whitehill a cyclist pedals up through the mist. Howden Glen is behind the trees on the left but is hidden by low cloud. |
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Dew 06 1280 x 1140 254K |
These 5 photos also appear in the Nature section of the website. Lingering mist had condensed into tiny dew drops on plants and spiders' webs. As we climbed the path to Capelaw from the Polo Field/Dreghorn area the morning sun was breaking through. |
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Dew 08 1280 x 850 260K |
Horizontal webs were strewn across the grass, smaller and less structured than the usual type. |
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Dew 10 1280 x 850 349K |
A classic spider's web built on a gorse bush and festooned with little drops of water. |
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Dew 13 718 x 1080 300K |
Two spiders' webs in this vertical shot. The strands of silk are weighed down by their burden. |
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Butterfly 1280 x 832 280K |
The mist had gone but it looks as though dampness got the butterfly's right wing partially folded over and stuck down. It had no difficulty flying after its rest on the grass. |
From People page 3
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Daisy Man 1280 x 884 296K |
At the corner of Princes Street and The Mound stood this young man wearing yellow and black striped clothes and carrying a similarly striped mirror on a pole. He spoke to one or two passers-by but his purpose remains unclear to me at least. |
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Long Haired Lady 851 x 1080 187K |
Another candid shot taken on the way to Princes Street - Lothian Road at the crossing from Morrison Street to Bread Street. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond - Hermitage of Braid
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Also upstream from the Hermitage is this little weir. I used an 8 second exposure to blur the water. |
From Bruntsfield Links
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A more conventional view of Leamington Walk. I sometimes skate down here. |
From Royal Mile page 11
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Pedal power for ferrying visitors around the town centre. |
From Views from Bruntsfield - page 4 (addition to steeple views)
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The temporary protective structure over the observatory contrasts with the darkening sky beyond. | |
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Same as last picture but zoomed back to show the rainbow. | |
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From Views from Arthur's Seat page: A large, white, temporary structure has enveloped the observatory on Blackford Hill. In the sun at the time was Braid Hill. The Pentland Hills are in the distance. | |
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From Views from Blackford Hill page. Previously photographed from afar, this is how it looks from close up. The smaller protective covering has now been removed. |
From Princes Street area page 13
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From Wikipedia: James Clerk Maxwell Einstein described Maxwell's work as the "most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton." See this page for some photos of his Edinburgh home. | |
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"Edinburgh statue for James Clerk Maxwell, physicist who changed the world" declared The Sunday Times article from November 25, 2008 the day after it was unveiled. | |
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Visit The Royal Society of Edinburgh for pictures & articles including sculptor Alexander Stoddart at work. You can even buy "A stunning 130 page book, published by the Royal Society of Edinburgh to commemorate the achievements and legacy of James Clerk Maxwell." | |
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A shortcut to the top of The Mound at the west end of East Princes Street Gardens, beside the art galleries. If the prospect of climbing the steps puts you off then you can turn left at the bottom and walk through the gardens to Cockburn Street. | |
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At the bottom of The Mound, not far from the foot of the Playfair Steps. A pause in the portrait proceedings. | |
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Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville Dundas was influential in supporting the cause of the abolition of the Slave Trade. More information on Wikipedia. The grey painted door gives an indication of scale. The statue, although at least twice life size, is difficult to see, even from the top of the Scott Monument. |
From Views from Craiglockhart Hill
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View 14 1280 x 744 149K |
The end of July 2010 brought Edinburgh sunny intervals and scattered showers which gave interesting changes of light - which I tried to capture just after 8pm. |
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View 20 1280 x 782 126K |
Views 14 and 20 are both north west views with the edge of Corstorphine Hill visible at the right of the picture. A shower was sweeping across from left to right, illuminated by the evening sun. |
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View 21 1920 x 1080 148K |
The middle distance is rainswept but further away it's clear enough to see the distant mountains. In the foreground suburban homes are switching their lights on. |
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View 22 1280 x 850 123K |
I made no changes to the light balance in this or the next shot. Knowing that our vision tries to compensate for ambient light, I decided that the camera knew best and didn't change the colour when editing. |
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View 23 1280 x 1008 112K |
The sepia tint is totally natural in this long lens view from Craiglockhart Hill East towards the mountains of the Trossachs region. |
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View 25 1920 x 1080 133K |
Rain and low sun combine to give a subtle effect in this view of Corstorphine Hill. The green patch on the left is part of Carrick Knowe golf course. |
From Pentlands Blackhill
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Blackhill-g 1280 x 850 326K |
Coming down the bulldozed track with views of Glencorse Reservoir and Castlelaw. There's no obvious route onto or off this track although it's visible from miles away. |
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Blackhill-j 1280 x 850 292K |
Further down the track which leads towards the conifer plantation at the centre of the picture then fizzles out at fields between Logan House and Logan Cottage. Dens Cleuch is down the slope to the left but there's no obvious path down the rough ground near White Cleuch Burn. |
From Nature page 12
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This butterfly got into our kitchen and settled on this postcard for a while. | |
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It folded its wings for a while then later settled on a picture rail on the wall before vanishing. | |
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Old Kirk Road 20 1280 x 850 393K |
An insect visits one of the tiny yellow flowers growing beside the path on the Pentland Hills. |
From Stockbridge page 2
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Saint Bernard's Well 783 x 1080 210K |
Returning to the Water of Leith to show the statue at Saint Bernard's Well. This picture and the next six also feature in the main (long) Water of Leith page. |
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Saunders Street Steps 1280 x 850 479K |
This picture should probably more accurately be named The Dene as the sign on the next picture names it thus. This is the view you would see when walking downstream from Dean Village. |
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The Dene 1280 x 850 336K |
The same two arches as in the picture above but large and small - instead of small and large. This is at the end of Saunders Street facing upriver. |
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Gormley 00 1280 x 735 294K |
About 200m along Saunders Street is the main road from the city centre; this section is Deanhaugh Street and it crosses the river here where you can see this Gormley statue. BBC info about Antony Gormley here. |
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Gormley 01 1280 x 850 367K |
Zoomed in closer to better see the texture of rusting iron. |
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StockBridge 08 1280 x 850 518K |
I had to go behind these railings to take the Gormley photos. Summer vegetation may have blocked some views from the bridge. |
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Water
of Leith 4 1280 x 854 291K |
This shows the footpath from Deanhaugh Street bridge to Bridge Place and Glenogle Road. |
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Bridge Place 1280 x 850 378K |
If you follow the path above having descended the metal steps then crossing Bridge Place continues the Water of Leith path downriver. |
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Hugh Miller Pl 1280 x 774 340K |
One of the Colonies rows of houses as seen from the footpath connecting Bridge Place / Glenogle Road to Saxe Coburg Place. |
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Glenogle Baths 1280 x 943 339K |
Recently renovated in 2010. In the '50s I was a member of the Heart of Midlothian Swimming Club and, thanks to coaching by my father, was Juvenile Champion 4 years running. I remember unruly youths jumping off the balcony into the water in public sessions. I also remember giant cockroaches in the cubicals and worse... But things are better now! |
From Gorgie Dalry Haymarket page 3
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The east end of this lane as seen from Rosebery Crescent off Haymarket Terrace. | |
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Haymarket Terrace changes its name to West Coates as it reaches the former Donaldson's Hospital / Donaldson's College (school for the deaf) pictured here. | |
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At the Haymarket junction showing the railway station on the right and Ryrie's pub on the left. | |
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A few paces away I used Infra Red to capture this image in front of the disused building at Clifton Terrace overlooking Haymarket. Apart from the weeds flourishing in the cracks, there's evidence of homeless people sleeping at the building's entrance. |
From Tollcross - Fountainbridge page 10
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1km east from the Telfer Subway is the lane Chuckie Pend leading from Morrison Street to Festival Square. | |
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At Tollcross Riego Street and High Riggs are greatly different from past decades. There was an unemployment benefit office here in the '60s where you signed for your dole money with a pencil chained to a wooden counter. Nowadays it's all metal and glass. | |
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The houses opposite are more bricks and mortar than metal and glass. However none of the newer buildings have any air of permanency about them and somehow look temporary. | |
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Looking down the pedestrianised High Riggs towards the Tollcross junction. Brougham Street on the left leads to Melville Drive through The Meadows. The Cameo cinema in Home Street is partially obscured by the police box. | |
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Looking up the hill from the Gilmore Place end. At the top is Bruntsfield Place with Ideal Computing on the right and Best Western's Bruntsfield Hotel on the left. |
From Local page 5 Ratho
.jpg) |
Broxburn Bing W 1152 x 864 220K |
Same standpoint as Broxburn Bing above but a wider view showing the track overlooking the motorway. The photos of Ratho Adventure Centre were taken from here. |
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Ratho Mains 1024 x 768 120K |
I took this photo in 2001 for a personal reason - because the line of trees (1km away from the camera) is on the horizon as seen from my window - but 12km away. |
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View East 1152 x 864 230K |
Looking east along the slip road that connects the M8 to the M9 just south of Newbridge. A white bus is crossing the bridge on Baird Road leading north west from Ratho to Harvest Road at Newbridge. |
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View SSE 1152 x 864 268K |
Turning the camera a little to the south shows the muddy track running parallel to and overlooking the M8 slip road. |
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Quarry 2237 x 768 495K |
This letterbox shaped picture shows how the Adventure Centre looked in March 2003. |
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Further up the road workmen are preparing this building for reoccupation after the fire. July 2010. | |
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The same shot as above but cropped to show the men at work (and rest). | |
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The black shutters and plain paintwork emphasize the arches under Victoria Terrace at the corner of Victoria Street and George IV Bridge. | |
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The West Bow leads up from the Grassmarket into Victoria Street. | |
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The site has lain empty for years since the big fire but something is being built. It looks like a temporary structure for an Edinburgh Fringe event. July 2010. | |
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There's a cluster of specialist shops selling books, maps, prints and handmade ceramics on the road from the Grassmarket up to Tollcross. |
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The plaque above the entrance to Cordiner's Land is dated 1696. Next door you can browse at Victorian Illustrated and secondhand books. | |
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Main Point is at the top of the West Port where it branches into Bread Street, East Fountainbridge and High Riggs. This bookshop is at the start of Lauriston Street at Main Point. |
From Bruntsfield (2) Bruntsfield Place
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Railings removed for scrap metal for World War 2 were finally replaced only to be smashed into by an out-of-control car. | |
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Thanks to Graeme Houston for this picture of the car wreck. | |
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A crowded image cropped from a long-lens view down to Gillespie Crescent. | |
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Bruntsfield Place - August 2009 on a Tuesday afternoon. Three friends have a coffee and a chat sitting on their first-floor windowsill, taking advantage of the projecting shopfront of the juice bar on the ground floor. | |
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July 2010 and the room above juiced up is currently empty. A sign in the window reads ROOM FOR RENT and gives the phone number - which may be illegible without the benefit of a telephoto lens. The room will have a view over Bruntsfield Links as well as the busy main street. | |
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Bruntsfield Place is peppered with unique shops from its Tollcross end to Morningside. You may even find the odd boutique that's more of an art statement than a shop. Trendy areas often seem to have (presumably loss-making) enterprises run by rich hobbyists. But these ones here are cool. |
From Widescreen Wallpaper page
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A couple of climbers ascend the cliff face at Hawkcraig Point, Aberdour. On the horizon can be seen Inchkeith Island and Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat. | |
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A wide image of Edinburgh as seen from Aberdour. Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags on the left and Edinburgh Castle on the right. | |
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Wide open space is the theme - sparkling water and a flat expanse of sand. Also available 1n 1920 x 1080 pixels if this suits your monitor better. |
From Leith page 20
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There's a timber business apparently thriving in contrast to the back wall of the yard, where nature is thriving and will destroy the building if the demolition men don't get there first. | |
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Preserved by additional brickwork and perhaps one day resurrected as a historic facade. Salamander Street connects Baltic Street to Seafield Road and runs east-west between Leith Links and Leith Docks. |
From Canonmills area
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Trinity 0 1280 x 850 454K |
EAST TRINITY ROAD states the helpful sign at the entrance to the tunnel on this branch of the cycle path network. This first of three variations was at 55mm focal length, a slight zoom over 'normal'. |
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Trinity 1 1280 x 853 414K |
This view is with a focal length of 18mm = 24mm on a film SLR. Wide angle makes the tunnel look longer despite the standpoint being closer than in the first shot. |
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Trinity 2 1280 x 850 395K |
24mm = 36mm on a 35mm film SLR, slightly wider than the 'normal' 50mm lens. In the first shot I changed my standpoint to get the sign over the dark tunnel. In this shot I got up close but positioned the sign carefully. |
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Under the pedestrian bridge from Riversdale Road some seeds have lodged in cracks in the stonework. These have germinated and decorated the wall. | |
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Infrared view up-river from the footbridge. Riversdale Road is on the right and Murrayfield Ice Rink is behind the trees on the left. June 2010. | |
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While waiting for the ice rink to open this fungus caught my eye. I was intrigued by the way the mould had moulded itself round the metal. | |
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In Riversdale Road outside the medical centre (on the left). Across the footbridge, part of Murrayfield Stadium can be seen. The ice rink is to its right. (The icy appearance of foliage is just the infrared reflection.) | |
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At the corner of Murrayfield Road a car's shiny bits make patterns in this ¼ second exposure. The bus is a blur. Infrared R72 filter. | |
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At the centre of Roseburn Park looking towards the east end. This is part of the flood plain that is home to Murrayfield Stadium and Murrayfield Ice Rink. There are flood barriers at Roseburn Crescent. | |
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The only part of Russell Road I could find that isn't disgusting. |
From Views from Craiglockhart Hill
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Donaldson's 1280 x 855 425K |
The former Donaldson's Hospital School for the Deaf. |
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Corstorphine
Hill 1280 x 908 319K |
Looking over the trees on Easter Craiglockhart Hill. |
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Napier
UCC7 1280 x 850 429K |
A later photograph of Napier University Craiglockhart Campus. |
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Salisbury
Crags 1280 x 872 246K |
To the left of the crags a ship sails out to sea from the Firth of Forth. |
From Morningside, Myreside, Mortonhall, Newbattle, Night views
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The arched footbridge over Myreside Road connects two sports grounds. In the background are the Pentland Hills. | |
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A view from Myreside Road to Craighouse. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond page D - Hermitage
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Infrared view or the Hermitage of Braid taken on a warm day in June 2010. |
From More Morningside
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Facing up the hill in this picture which features the same row of colourfully painted shops as in picture 31 above. The rightmost shop is Cameratiks, the photography specialist. |
From South Side Suburbs page 2
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Kirk
Brae Bus 1280 x 798 209K |
While about to take a photo of Salisbury Crags from Kirk Brae at Liberton, a 31 bus pulled into view coming up the steep hill - with this result. |
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Liberton
Tower 1280 x 850 245K |
Blackford Glen Road still has farm land on its south side. This is the view up to Liberton Tower. |
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from Liberton Hospital 1280 x 727 260K |
The view to Arthur's Seat from Liberton Hospital. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond Union Canal part 1
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Another two views from the same bridge but in infrared. Watson Crescent is on the right. | |
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Camera panned left showing how the vegetation at the back of Temple Park Crescent seems white under infrared. Any foliage will reflect infrared light and an R72 filter exploits the effect. |
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The Golden Rule pub at the corner of Watson Crescent and Yeaman Place has this solitary tree outside - which probably hasn't been photographed in infrared before. Dundee Street is down the slope to the right. |
From Bridges area page 2. (Also see updates to Views from Museum Roof.)
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Outsize chess set in the museum June 2010. | |
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A closer look at the white chess pieces. | |
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It was a cool place to visit when I was a child. It's even more cool now. | |
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The building itself is fascinating to explore. The architecture is intriguing as are the countless exhibits. There are interesting lifts (elevators) as well as stairs. Do allow plenty of time to wander. | |
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A view of a passageway and the entrance to the Buchan Stair. |
From Miscellany page 2
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Pedestrian Crossing 1280 x 850 107K |
An ideal place to park while a passenger nips into Tesco or to the cash machine - on top of a pedestrian crossing and double yellow line at Holy Corner. Having hazard lights flashing doesn't make it totally cool to do this. |
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Slab
Cracker 1280 x 992 84K |
Outside Churchhill Theatre, the footpath has been recently repaired with brand new concrete slabs. These are soon cracked again by vans, lorries and cars parking on the pavement. |
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chip 1097 x 1024 315K |
A macro shot of a chip removed from a plastic card. Embedded in the resin you can see 5 gold wires from the chip to the gold plated contacts that connect to machines which suck money out of your account. |
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The temporary protective structure over the observatory contrasts with the darkening sky beyond. | |
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Same as last picture but zoomed back to show the rainbow. |
From Canonmills area
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Scotland
Yard17 1280 x 850 269K |
How it looks in 2010. |
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Scotland
Yard19 1280 x 894 338K |
The old tunnel to Waverley Station has been partly opened up and secured with a heavy-duty custom-made gate. |
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Scotland
Yard18 1280 x 850 269K |
A little bit closer in, on the other side of that black painted metal structure. |
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Scotland
Yard20 1280 x 850 373K |
CONFINED SPACE - DO NOT ENTER admonishes the warning notice. The space doesn't look confined - but you can't enter anyway. |
From South Side page 10
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Late May 2010 and I passed through George Square Gardens. The first infrared shot is facing north east near the centre of the gardens. | |
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I removed the R72 infrared filter for this shot of the ivy. | |
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From the east corner of the gardens facing west. |
From Views from Arthur's Seat page 2
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A large, white, temporary structure has enveloped the observatory on Blackford Hill. In the sun at the time was Braid Hill. The Pentland Hills are in the distance. | |
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The new Informatics Forum partly obscures the rounded shape of McEwan Hall. Photographed from half way down Arthur's Seat. | |
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A long lens view across Hunters Bog to Calton Hill. Fife lies across the Firth of Forth beyond. |
From Southside page 11
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A fisheye view of the westmost corner of Nicolson Square. |
From Royal Mile page 11
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If you search Twitter for #Edinburgh (with a column in TweetDeck for example) there may be an endless succession of tweets from this establishment. It's just down from the Tron. | |
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Most of my Victoria Street photos are in the Grassmarket pages but this is closer to the High Street. | |
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A unicyclist entertains crowds outside the Edinburgh Festival fringe shop in July 2010. | |
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Such a tall unicycle needs assistance to get on, but once he was going he was able to move about and change direction - whilst talking all the time. | |
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He's facing to the right in this shot which also gives a glimpse of the Tron Kirk beside Hunter Square. | |
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Further up the High Street on this July afternoon were a couple of guys playing music while their female companion posed prettily. |
From The Bridges Area - page 1
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Festival
Theatre 4. 1280 x 889 407K |
Four pictures of the Wall of Fame which celebrates the building of the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. The tiles were produced by the Edinburgh College of Art in June 1994. |
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Festival
Theatre 5. 1598 x 1080 452K |
Three photos cover all the signed tiles, saved to suit a large monitor (1920 x 1080) for legibility without scrolling. |
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Festival
Theatre 6. 1576 x 1080 418K |
I don't recognise too many celebrities' names here but I do remember Mackenzies Sports next to the old Empire Theatre. |
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Festival
Theatre 7. 1920 x 1033 493K |
Sean Connery's signed tile is easily spotted in the leftmost column |
From Tollcross - Fountainbridge area page 10
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Nature has taken a foothold beside the bottom end of Viewforth opposite Fountainpark's eastmost corner. | |
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Peering down into the carpark at the entertainment complex. | |
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Fountainbridge Library 00 1032 x 1024 249K |
100m away from the above standpoint is probably the best bit of architecture hereabouts, namely Fountainbridge Public Library. It's not actually in Fountainbridge but Dundee Street, a continuation. |
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Up closer for a wide angle view. Murdoch Terrace (on the left) stops at the Union Canal. Further to the right (past Yeaman Lane) is Yeaman Place which crosses the canal then changes its name to Polwarth Crescent. | |
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From Dundee Street go down the steps or ramp into the subway, or take the middle path to the bus stop for a 22 or 30 bus going west on the West Approach Road. | |
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Some of my earlier pictures featured some excellent mural work in the Telfer Subway. Sadly, aerosols arseholes vandalised them. They continue to spray-paint clumsy slogans on the walls - but vandalproof paint means they're just washed off again. | |
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At the Dalry end looking back towards Dundee Street. The vandalproof paint seems to be effective. Adolescent males could save cash they spend on spray cans. | |
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1km east from the Telfer Subway is the lane Chuckie Pend leading from Morrison Street to Festival Square. | |
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At Tollcross Riego Street and High Riggs are greatly different from past decades. There was an unemployment benefit office here in the '60s where you signed for your dole money with a pencil chained to a wooden counter. Nowadays it's all metal and glass. | |
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The houses opposite are more bricks and mortar than metal and glass. However none of the newer buildings have any air of permanency about them and somehow look temporary. | |
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Looking down the pedestrianised High Riggs towards the Tollcross junction. Brougham Street on the left leads to Melville Drive through The Meadows. The Cameo cinema in Home Street is partially obscured by the police box. |
From Southside page 7
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The Police Station is near here so it's unlikely that there's a disturbance at the pub - which seems to be closed for business anyway. | |
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Round the corner, looking towards St Leonard's Street. | |
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The entrance to the former James Clerk's High School. Its elevated position means that homes in this converted building have stunning views. | |
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This little cul-de-sac is a nice entrance to Holyrood Park for walkers. An early glimpse of Salisbury Crags through a gap in the trees. | |
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The junction of Newington Road and East Preston Street. | |
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A somewhat different view of the same corner (Ladbroke's the bookmakers) photographed from Arthur's Seat. |
From Edinburgh North West page 9
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Photographed from Cramond near the mouth of the River Almond. The castle is 2.6km distant but the long lens makes it seem nearer. | |
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Storm damage to the sea front at the beginning of April 2010. | |
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A peaceful scene in late May 2010. We walked past here on this day - normally we'd be on inline skates. | |
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These heavy concrete blocks have been tossed about by the waves. | |
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The tarmac and interlocking slabs have been undercut. | |
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The beach is not easily accessed by push chairs any more. | |
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Further east and the promenade is littered with blocks. | |
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If continuing east on foot then it's necessary to walk along West Shore Road and West Harbour Road. The road on the right of this picture has the American sounding name of Waterfront Avenue. It's comparatively recent. | |
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The Granton Light House isn't recent and nor is it a light house any more. | |
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Looking west along West Harbour Road towards Granton Light House. | |
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The steeple belongs to Alien Rock Climbing Centre. The buildings at Newhaven are somewhat dwarfed by the flour mill in the background, although it's further away than the picture suggests. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond page Br1 Bruntsfield Links
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The top part of Leamington Walk crosses Whitehouse Loan before the last stretch to Bruntsfield Place where all the good shops, restaurants and bars are. If I'm out on my inline skates I'll come down this way. | |
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A long-lens view over Bruntsfield Links towards George Square. The Mosque and Islamic Centre is at Potterrow. Part of Salisbury Crags is on the right. | |
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Infrared view of the grassy hollow next to Alvanley Terrace, part of Whitehouse Loan. | |
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Further down Leamington Walk near the bottom end of Warrender Park Terrace looking across Bruntsfield Links towards Barclay Church. | |
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Looking across Leamington Walk and Bruntsfield Links towards the corner of Glengyle Terrace and Leven Terrace. These 3 infrared shots taken with an R72 filter which blocks visible light. | |
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Another shot of this brick building. I'd like to think it could be incorporated into whatever eventually occupies the old brewery site between the canal and Fountainbridge. | |
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From my roof looking across the start of Colinton Road towards Craighouse Campus on Craiglockhart Hill. In the distance is White Hill, part of the Pentland Hills beside Bonaly. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond page Br2
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A couple more shots of this building. You can see the ornate masonry rather well in this picture, as well as Michael Parkinson's likeness at a window, looking out over Bruntsfield Links. | |
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This is the other (westmost) corner on Barclay Place (east side of the bottom of Bruntsfield Place). The long-lens shot shows Edinburgh Castle in the background. | |
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Railings removed for scrap metal for World War 2 were finally replaced only to be smashed into by an out-of-control car. | |
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Thanks to Graeme Houston for this picture of the car wreck. | |
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A crowded image cropped from a long-lens view down to Gillespie Crescent. |
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WOMAN and CHILD Festival Square 850 x 1280 233K |
A vertical view with reduced depth of field to blur the background. |
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Victoria Street is looking rather fine in early May, 2010. The granite setts are looking quite smart. |
From Pentlands page E-F Flotterstone
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Flotterstone
Inn 1280 x 850 281K |
A popular place to start or end a walk. It's right next to the main road. There is a car park and a toilet block nearby. The McEwan bus stops here. |
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Flotterstone Glen Road 0 1280 x 850 371K |
Cyclists will have to watch out for potholes, if the state of repair is as it was in early May 2010. |
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Flotterstone Glen Road 1 1280 x 850 492K |
Two views along the tree lined road leading to Glencorse and beyond. |
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Flotterstone Glen Road 2 1280 x 850 504K |
The Glencorse Burn flows parallel to the road here. You can cross it a short distance further on if climbing Turnhouse Hill. |
From Leith page 20
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Not far from Royal Yacht Britannia is this dilapidated old wooden pier stretching into Western Harbour. The new homes bearing the same name are 1km away across the harbour. | |
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Sharp-eyed visitors may notice the figure of a man standing at the end of the pier, apparently about to dive or jump into the water. | |
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Closer inspection with a long lens shows that this is an iron man with studs on his buttocks and seagull shit on his head and shoulders. | |
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Zoomed right in on the iron man. I used Google Earth's ruler to figure out that he was at least 90m away. |
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At the west side of the entrance to Albert Dock was this extremely orange vessel. I made no adjustments to the colour or contrast. I'm fairly certain its purpose is to lay undersea cable. | |
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I have no idea what this metal building is for, situated at the northern end of the multistorey carpark. | |
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The front of the building is quite imposing, with the metal plates and rivets catching the sunlight. The purpose of the upper door on its little balcony eludes me, as does everthing else about this strongbox construction. Suggestions on a postcard email/tweet please! The upper door has some large dents in it made from the inside... |
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The multistorey carpark has something resembliing horizontal railings jutting out from each floor. These metal beams do not seem to serve any useful purpose and their presence may be purely for decoration. | |
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Previously photographed from the top of the adjacent car park. This time I got up close with a fisheye lens. |
From Pentlands page K-L (Kitchen Moss, Logan Burn, Loganlea)
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Red
Grouse 1280 x 885 293K |
We moved a few metres off the Kirk Road path for a break and spotted this grouse amongst the heather. |
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Kirk
Road 8 1280 x 850 308K |
Climbing over the pass from the Silverburn side. |
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Kirk
Road 9 1280 x 850 227K |
Same area looking back towards the A702 road. |
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Logan
Burn Strata 1280 x 850 496 |
Down beside the Logan Burn it's plain to see that the strata has been tilted by nearly 90 degrees. What was once horizontal under water is now vertical. |
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Logan
Burn Bridge View 0 1280 x 850 391K |
Between Loganlea and Glencorse Reservoirs. This is the view upstream. |
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Logan
Burn Bridge View 1 1280 x 850 286K |
Looking downstream. The Glen Road on the left leads back to Flotterstone. Castlelaw hill is in the distance. |
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Kirkton
Cows 1280 x 849 361K |
It's good to see Highland Cattle at Kirkton as well as Swanston. |
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Kirkton
Cows 2 1280 x 732 348K |
In this picture there's a mountain biker coming down Maiden's Cleugh towards Glen Road beside Glencorse Reservoir. |
From Pentlands page T (Threipmuir)
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Threipmuir'10e 1280 x 850 187K |
The water level was very low when we passed this way in May 2010. Some walkers are taking advantage and exploring the reservoir bottom. |
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Threipmuir'10g 1280 x 850 223K |
As seen from the path down to Blacksprings. |
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Threipmuir'10e Blacksprings 2 1280 x 850 187K |
It looks like the reservoir has been drained for some remedial work. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 1 1280 x 850 324K |
If the conditions are right then steps often form naturally on steep hillsides. These ones enabled a runner to overtake us easily. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 2 1280 x 804 412K |
In front of the trees in the previous picture. These old trees have been shaped by the weather. Any naturally occuring offspring would have been eaten by sheep. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 4 1280 x 863 537K |
In the dappled sunshine, under the laid-back trees, with a good view back down to Flotterstone. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 5 1280 x 850 381K |
The path gets less steep for a while as you emerge from the trees. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 7 1280 x 888 326K |
Further up, looking back. Steps have started to form but soon it gets too steeps and walkers' boots have caused some erosion. Ankle support could save you so coming up here in trainers or shoes is risky. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 8 1280 x 850 395K |
Footpaths do meander. Steepness of terrain or wet conditions cause walkers to wear new variations to avoid the bad bits. Up here it's quite steep and it's easier going up than down for some people. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 10 1280 x 850 254K |
The last stretch of the path up Turnhouse is easier. |
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Turnhouse Loganlea 1280 x 850 274K |
Looking across windblown grass towards Loganlea Reservoir. Blackhill's patchy appearance is due to heather burning. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 11 1280 x 850 285K |
If not continuing along the ridge (Carnethy, Scald Law, East & West Kip) then you can get down to Glen Road this way. There's a bridge across the Logan Burn between Loganlea and Glencorse Reservoirs. |
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Turnhouse 2010 - 12 1280 x 850 362K |
It gets steeper as you descend so care is required. |
From Pentlands page 3 Reservoirs, A702, Allermuir, Black Hill
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Dens
Cleuch 1280 x 850 399K |
These four photos taken in May 2010 as part of a walk from Silverburn to Swanston. Bells Hill is on the left, Allermuir and Carnethy are directly ahead. Blackhill is on the right of the valley or cleuch. |
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Dens
Cleuch 2 1280 x 850 543K |
A couple of photos of rust - iron is oxidised and hydrogen is released into the atmosphere. |
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Dens
Cleuch 3 1280 x 850 593K |
A closer view of the rusting drum. It will disappear eventually. All things must pass. Rust never sleeps. (Two musical quotes) |
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Blackhill
Cows 1280 x 994 421K |
Glad to see more Highland Cattle in another part of the Pentlands. Previously they've been seen at Swanston. Blackhill and Dens Cleuch are in the background. |
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Glencorse2010a 1280 x 850 572K |
And 13 months later the dry stane dyke is still submerged. |
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Glencorse2010b 1280 x 790 537K |
A closer look at the dyke and the wire fence on top of it. |
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Glencorse2010c 1280 x 832 466K |
Some trees seem to survive partial immersion quite well. |
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Glencorse2010d 1280 x 850 232K |
Looking at the main part of the reservoir in the direction of Flotterstone. Castlelaw is the hill on the left. |
From Pentlands page P
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Illegal 1280 x 850 210K |
These scumbags on motor bikes are on the main path from Bonaly Reservoir to Glencorse. Harbour Hill is on the right. Their faces were concealed. They're breaking laws galore and threatening walkers, highland cattle, sheep and lambs. Sunday 9th May 2010 4pm. |
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Police 1280 x 850 166K |
If you see motor bikes or antisocial behaviour in the Pentlands Park this notice advises you to report it immediately to 0131 311 3131. |
From Pentlands page S (Swanston) Highland Cattle
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Highland
Cows 11 1280 x 959 428K |
May 2010 and the Highland Cow population has increased. Caerketton Hill is in the background. This beast has one curved horn and one straight one. |
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Highland
Cows 12 |
A sequence of four shots as one of the cows passed me. Part of the 'T' Woods can be seen behind. |
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Highland
Cows 13 1280 x 850 359K |
A bit nearer... |
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Highland
Cows 14 1280 x 850 332K |
A glimpse of an eye under that shaggy hair. |
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Highland
Cows 15 1280 x 850 313K |
Two hooves off the ground as the cow joins its family. The A720 Edinburgh Bypass road is visible in the background. |
From Pentlands Bonaly page B01
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Bonaly
Reservoir 2010 a 1280 x 850 407K |
5th of May 2010 and the reservoir is full to the brim. |
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Bonaly
Reservoir 2010 b 1280 x 850 328K |
At the opposite end of Bonaly Reservoir it's obvious that the increase in water level is quite recent because of the submerged grass. |
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To
Capelaw 1280 x 850 303K |
Straight ahead to take the path up Capelaw or fork left if descending towards Dreghorn or the foot of Howden Glen. |
From Pentlands Polo Field
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A few years ago a wind-blown seed lodged itself between the brickwork and the concrete slab. It's grown into a tree and cracked the concrete, lifting it by a few inches. | |
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This is at the north end of the Polo Field near Laverockdale. |
From Gorgie, Dalry, Haymarket page 3
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Sandwiched between a normal size tenement building and a smaller one is this little shop which has been a hairdresser's and a billiards hall - though probably not at the same time. | |
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Morrison Link connects the West Approach Road with Morrison Street. This circular street branches off the former. | |
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St Mary's Cathedral stands behind the advertising hoardings overlooking the Haymarket junction and train station. | |
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Another view showing part of the colony houses off Dalry Road and the old chimney along Distillery Lane on the south side of the railway line. | |
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Morrison Street is on the other side of these tattered signs. | |
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Inside the gents toilet in Morrison Street. There will be many travelers and football and rugby fans who are glad to make use of the Victorian style facilities. | |
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An odd little building not far from Torphicen Place Police Station. The development opportunity referred to on the sign is larger than is at first apparent... | |
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At the right edge of the grey-painted building, peering over the wall into what's often called a 'hole in the ground' in Edinburgh. (The local baby-boomer generation will remember the old Synod Hall.) | |
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Half way along the wall in Dewar Place Lane. Dewar Place is on the right and Torphicen Street is in front, behind the fence. The tall buildings are in Canning Street. | |
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A closer look. On the right is the red sandstone shell of the former Electricity Board offices. (I once knew someone who lived in a flat occupying this space.) | |
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Stone steps lead down into a former basement. At the back, on the left, is the building which once was Torphicen Street School. | |
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Reconstruction work continues behind the preserved shell of the old Electricity Board. The support girders will be removed once there's a building behind the front facia again. | |
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Looking directly south towards the junction of Dewar Place, Morrison Street and Gardner's Crescent. On the right, a ramp leads down from Dewar Place Lane to allow lorries and bulldozers in and out. Thousands of cars pass this corner, their drivers oblivious to what lies behind the fence. | |
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The corner of Atholl Place and Torphicen Street as seen by a fisheye lens. | |
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A wee bit round the same corner, further into Torphicen Street. | |
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At the end of the lane the gates are chained and locked - but that didn't stop two separate women standing on the stone blocks and climbing through the hole in the gate within a minute or two of each other. I looked discreetly away so as not to embarass them. |
From Princes Street area page 13
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The pedestrianised Rose Street at the back of Princes Street needs a police presence and this car is sufficiently small to allow it access to any trouble spots. | |
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There are many cobbled lanes and mews behind the houses and premises in Edinburgh's new town. This lane is sandwiched between Canning Street and Atholl Crescent Lane. | |
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This magnificent building at the corner of Hanover Street and George Street has been home to Lakeland for a while. They sell mainly up-market kitchen gadgets and tools. | |
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Interesting old architecture in Thistle Street, between George Street and Queen Street. | |
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The next four photos were taken from North Bridge's west side. St Christopher's Inn stands on Market Street which continues past Waverley Bridge up towards Edinburgh Castle and the Mound. | |
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Part of Waverley Station's roof and wall with numerous stone arches. | |
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Heavy Duty riveted girders dominate this view at the back of Edinburgh Dungeon. | |
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At one time I used to drive into the station and park my car while buying magazines and crisps. Officialdom would soon move me on now if I had a car and dared to park it in Waverley Station. |
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Ice
Rink 14 1280 x 960 297K |
If you've paid to hire skates or a locker then the end of this corridor is where to go. The floor is covered with rubber so it's not necessary to have skate guards on your skates. |
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Two things made me take this picture. The car showroom premises occupied by Kenny Dunn are for sale in April 2010, suggesting a downturn in the luxury car market - and my former employer PC World has a revamped store at Corstorphine. |
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Sounds grand - King's Stables Lane - and isn't that a thatched roof..? No, it's grass that's taken root in the dirt in the gutter. Nevertheless the grass and natural stone soften the harsh appearance of the rear of Argyle House. | |
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So good they named it twice, or even thrice. Edinburgh Castle towers overhead. Coaches are parked on Johnston Terrace. | |
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Biodegradable corrugated plastic tubes protect sapling trees from being eaten by wildlife. | |
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Looking down on King's Stables Road and King's Stables Lane from Johnston Terrace. The disappearance of Argyle House would be regretted by few, as long as the space was occupied by something better. | |
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The pipe is reminiscent of a boat or ship and is presumably to remove some bad air from the vaults underneath South Bridge. | |
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This close connects the Cowgate to Guthrie Street and is on the edge of the empty space where buildings burned a few years ago. | |
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A few metres west along the Cowgate is Guthrie Street leading up to Chambers Street. These steps provide a shortcut. If you cross Chambers Street and continue up West College Street there's a footpath leading under Lothian Street to Potterrow and Bristo Square. |
From Lauriston Place / Old Royal Infirmary / Quartermile
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Another picture of Nightingale Way. Pure Gym have their premises in the glass building. Lauriston Place is just up the slope. | |
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The practice of covering up buildings under renovation with huge photographs of themselves is increasing. The end result can look quite strange. | |
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All this glass can cause interesting reflections and distribute light and shadows in intriguing ways. This footpath leads to Middle Meadow Walk. | |
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A few of the homes in Quartermile are occupied but the investors in the project would obviously prefer to see spaces like these teeming with people. | |
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As might be expected, there are 'retail & restaurant opportunities available now' in April 2010. | |
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One day the fences and hoardings will be gone and this will hopefully be a thriving community. Some parts such as Pure Gym and shops and coffee bars at Middle Meadow Walk are already busy. There is still a lot of development work under way. | |
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Reflected light and shadows beside the entrance to Pure Gym. | |
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Same locale as Quartermile 02 further up the page, but a different day and a different stance to rearrange the geometrical shapes. |
From The Bridges page 1
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Infirmary
Street 2010 1280 x 932 271K |
Sadly, the baths have long since shut down. Currently in 2010, the Commonwealth Pool is closed for renovation and Warrender Baths needs the roof fixed since glass fell onto a swimmer. This building is now converted to homes and has a To Let sign showing. |
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South
Bridge15 1280 x 850 285K |
At the corner of Infirmary Street and South Bridge, opposite the entrance to Old College. Thin's long established bookshop is now Blackwell's, and Flip Clothing has turned into Tesco Express. |
From Local page 7 Dalkeith
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Another view from the east side of South Street showing Pettigrews Close. | |
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Revisited |
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Buccleuch Street is on the right, Old Edinburgh Road is on the left. The High Street continues straight on. | |
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Eskdaill |
The town centre of Dalkeith. The High Street bus stop is where you'd catch a number 3 bus to Edinburgh. |
From Edinburgh South Side page 9
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At the top of hotel-lined Minto Street is this junction where the number 5 bus turns to and from Churchhill and Morningside. | |
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I took 3 long-lens shots to pass the time whilst waiting on a bus. The shiny metalwork decorated with sun, moon and stars caught my eye. | |
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The dome of Edinburgh University Old College 1.28km distant is in the centre of the picture. The nearer steeple on the left is Queens Hall, 0.5km away. | |
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The background of rooves and chimneys is blurred here. A 29 bus heads from The Bridges area to Gorebridge, south of the city. |
From Edinburgh South Side page 6
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Bristo
Place 1280 x 891 169K |
It's not every day you see a smartly dressed rabbit sitting on a chair in a shop window. |
From Fountainbridge / Tollcross page 9 (Addendum to new Springside page)
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For nostalgia's sake, here's a view east along Fountainbridge from 2003. The bridge across the road and the buildings beyond it are all gone. This long-lens view makes the U-shaped Scottish Widows Headquarters and Edinburgh Castle seem closer than normal. | |
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More nostalgia. This is the view that greeted drivers coming from Ponton Street near Tollcross. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond - Churchhill
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Another variation with a hazy Hillend. February 2010. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond - More Meadows
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February 2010 and there's a big police presence here at the east end of The Meadows near the children's play park. The BNP didn't show up. | |
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I'm happy to say that the police showed no sign of irritation at being photographed. No photographers were arrested as suspected terrorists. | |
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Boroughloch
0 |
Three photos from June 2004 when the Boroughloch area was looking rather smart. The bench seat as on the edge of North Meadow Walk near the tennis courts. |
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A few metres nearer Buccleuch Street to the east looking back at the row of two cottages overlooked by Boroughloch Square. | |
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A closer look at the cottages. | |
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Boroughloch Walk. A fine sunny April afternoon in 2010. North Meadow Walk runs past the buildings, connecting Middle Meadow Walk to Buccleuch Street at Hope Park. |
From Pentland Hills page 3-A-B (Allermuir)
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Ascent
1002 1280 x 850 390K |
Photographed from the top of Howden Glen February 2010. Patches of snow persist amongst the frosty grass. |
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Summit
10 1280 x 797 213K |
The Ordnance Survey marker post is at the very top. The fence to its left continues for a long way down the hill to the north. |
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Descent
01 1280 x 850 293K |
The highest part of Allermuir has already been descended. From this plateau there are paths down to Swanston or along to Caerketton and Hillend. |
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Descent
02 1280 x 850 339K |
Further down the hill towards Swanston. Arthur's Seat stands in front of the Firth of Forth on the left. The A720 city bypass separates suburbia from the Pentlands. |
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Allermuir
from Home 02 1280 x 727 189K |
Photographed on the 1st of April from my living room window - which is 7km distant. The dry stane dyke on Allermuir's northern slopes is plainly visible. After a cold snowy winter there was a sudden reappearance of the snow. |
From Pentland Hills page Bo2 (Bonaly)
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Bonaly
Burn 0 1280 x 850 426K |
Sunlight was streaming through the trees on this frosty February morning. From here there's a steep path up the trees to the top of White Hill. |
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Bonaly
Burn 1 1280 x 850 386K |
Zoomed in a little in this shot. The Bonaly Burn flows into the Braid Burn coming from Torduff Reservoir. The Braid Burn is later joined by the Howden Burn in Covenanters Wood near Dreghorn Barracks. |
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Braid
Burn at Bonaly 1280 x 850 449K |
Frosty February morning. The Braid Burn passes under the A720 bypass here. |
From Pentland Hills - Caerketton
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Caerketton
from Allermuir 10 1280 x 854 359K |
A wider view from about half way down the steepest part of Allermuir, photographed February 2010. |
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Capelaw
to Craiglockhart 1280 x 850 390K |
A family head back home after a morning walk. Wester Craiglockhart Hill is in the distance with Redford Barracks in front to its left and Firrhill School further right. |
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Capelaw
from Allermuir 1280 x 850 460K |
The north side of this rounded hill is partly shaded from the February sunshine and consequently has a bluish tinge. Two walkers are heading along the path towards Bonaly. |
From Pentland Hills - 'T' Woods
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T
Woods 28 1280 x 850 351K |
There are two paths down from Allermuir to Swanston; this is the the least steep one. The T Woods are directly in front. |
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T
Woods 29 1280 x 850 351K |
Further down the hill there's a dead tree and this fallen branch, bleached by wind and weather. It will gradually be recycled by fungus and insects. |
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T
Woods 30 1280 x 850 351K |
A view of the Februrary sun streaming through the bare trees. |
From Views from Craiglockhart Hill
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Craighouse
4 1280 x 850 288K |
Now a university campus, this former psychiatric hospital has several fine buildings with magnificent views over the city. A foggy February morning adds a little atmosphere. |
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Craiglockhart
5 1280 x 829 141K |
Continue walking up hill through the grounds and you'll reach the top of Easter Craiglockhart Hill affording this view of Wester Craiglockhart Hill with the Pentland Hills in the background. |
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Craiglockhart
7 1280 x 841 147K |
A wider view of the scene above. Beyond Wester Craiglockhart Hill to the south, the Pentlands rise out of the mist, still with a little snow here and there. Glenlockhart Road runs east-west in the misty valley below. |
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Craiglockhart
9 1280 x 850 106K |
A tighter shot, zoomed in on Wester Craiglockhart Hill. Allermuir hill is the higher Pentlands hill, separated from Capelaw to its right by Howden Glen. |
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Craiglockhart
12 1280 x 850 146K |
Beyond the manicured Merchants of Edinburgh golf course the fog conceals Firrhill and Oxgangs districts. The golf course virtually cuts off public access to Wester Craiglockhart Hill. |
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Craiglockhart
14 1280 x 888 178K |
A bird flies across the scene in this long-lens view towards the woods on White Hill near Bonaly at the edge of the Pentlands. |
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Craiglockhart
17 1280 x 850 154K |
The fence at the golf course's northern bounday dips down hill towards Craiglea Place. The spire and its associated buildings are Greenbank Village, a housing project using the old City Hospital. |
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Craiglockhart
18 1280 x 700 68K |
A long-lens look through the mist at the old City Hospital's spire. |
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Craiglockhart 19 1280 x 850 96K |
To the west is Braid Hill with its radio tower. The bungalows of Greenbank are visible 600m away. Some trees at Braidburn Valley Park are barely perceptible just beyond that. |
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Craiglockhart 21 718 x 1080 246K |
To start or finish a walk up Easter Craiglockhart Hill there's a convenient bus terminus for the 23 or 41 services at this spot. This is a view from the top deck of the bus. A walk up here can be extended by following the footpaths down the other side of the hill. A shorter middle route down some steps and a zigzag path takes you to Craighouse Road. The longer, more circuitous route goes along a high ridge and down, curving to the right behind Craiglockhart Tennis Centre and the pond at Happy Valley. Colinton Road and the Union Canal are a short distance from here. |
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Craiglockhart
22 1280 x 764 284K |
Comfortable seats on the bus in the warm, away from the freezing fog - swirling aroung again after a brief sunny spell. |
From Edinburgh West page 8 Between Polwarth and Murrayfield
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One of this street's 2 right angle bends. The ramp is the end of the Roseburn Cycle Path. One day trams might pass by here. There's been a little bit of occasional preparatory work in February 2010. | |
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The drainage and general upkeep of the area has been somewhat neglected. After a shower the footpath gets flooded. Some water (not a lot) has passed under the bridge. |
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So, Princes Street is once again open to buses, taxis and cyclists. Actual trams will come later. Much later. Shopping is more pleasurable once again, apart from the Tartan Tat shops blaring amplified music and peddling crap. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond Night Views
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Taken 8 years later than the two pictures above. In this shot a woman is illuminated by the headlights of a bus as she waits for it to pass in Bruntsfield Place. | |
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Both shots were 1 second exposure. The bus is further into the scene in this second shot. At the corner is Howie's Restaurant, Merchiston Place and Montpelier Park. |
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YouTube Inline Skating Videos - Updated!
2 New amazing videos: Surreal and Augmented Reality
None of the above videos have any input from me; they're just so good
I had to show them!
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From Miscellany page 1
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1980
entertainment 1280 x 823 268K |
The Compukit computer with a 12 inch mono TV on top. The turntable is still in use in 2010. Cassettes replaced by mp3. The Rank Arena tuner amplifier was classy in its day. Hendrix LP & trimphone in evidence. |
From Tollcross - Fountainbridge area page 8
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Previously photographed but the January sunshine made the twin arches really stand out, encouraging me to snap its picture again. | |
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This lane is off Semple Street and once provided back door access to Woolworth's store at the top of Lothian Road. The L shaped shop also had an entrance in Fountainbridge. | |
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Metal doors and shutters protect the premises which now belong to Poundsavers. Woolworth's became like a filling station's shop without the petrol - then it went into liquidation. | |
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The "Stunning Townhouses" described in the sign appear to be almost ready for occupation. The ice on the canal hasn't yet fully melted in January 2010, creating interesting patterns and reflections. | |
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Leamington Lift Bridge crosses the frozen canal here. People were walking on the ice recently but refrozen slush and snow made it a poor surface for skating. The thaw is now making the ice disappear. | |
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Water is filling parallel grooves on the surface, probably made by a sledge's runners in what was once snow. | |
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At the very end of the Union Canal. These boats aren't going anywhere yet, not until the ice melts. | |
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Four days later and the ice has melted a bit more. A cyclist heads west into the setting sun. The bridge ahead is Viewforth. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond Slateford and Union Canal part 1
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Winter of 2009/2010 and there are youngsters walking on the frozen canal. Under the bridge at Yeaman Place there is still a tiny unfrozen patch with a few ducks. Ice is supposed to be 20cm thick to support people safely. | |
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The sun was setting as I walked home from the ice rink so I grabbed a couple of snaps with my compact camera. The ice and snow had disappeared for a day or two but there's new patches of ice forming now. | |
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Zoomed in on the footprints made by coots and moorhens walking on a coating of snow on the thin ice. | |
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At the other side of the bridge which connects Yeaman Place to Polwarth Crescent, facing east. More of the canal is frozen here and the footprints of birds are everywhere. The next bridge is at Viewforth and there's access to the canal towpath there, or at Harrison Road further south west. |
From Pentlands page SSS
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Smithy
Cleugh Jan 3 2010 1280 x 850 259K |
This is the bridle path referred to above. Beyond the snowy gorse bushes the path turns left (east) up a hill then down to Swanston. |
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Smithy
Cleugh Jane 1280 x 905 218K |
Looking back down the bridle path into the cleuch. Another path leads up the opposite hill on the left and leads to a stile over a fence. |
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Smithy
Cleugh Winter Cows 1280 x 850 248K |
At the very bottom of the hills round Smithy Cleugh, facing Dreghorn Link and the A720 bypass. Highland cattle are well protected from cold but because their pasture is covered in snow they've been given hay. |
From South Side page 10
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Oddfellows Hall used to have stalls buying and selling records but these days it's the Fat Cow pub. | |
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Monster Mash has been here for a while. "We did the Mash, the Monster Mash" sang Bobby Boris Picket in 1962. I prefered Vivian Stanshall's effort for The Bonzo Dog Doodah band record. |
From Bruntsfield and Beyond Slateford and Union Canal part 1
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Further east towards the city centre there were a few swans near the Meggetland area. | |
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These two swans were glad to meet up again after separating for a while. |
From Royal Mile page 8
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Fleshmarket Close 2/2 680 x 1024 183K |
A different day and a different sequence of 4 pictures. Looking straight up its length in this shot, about 110 metres not including the height. |
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Fleshmarket Close 2/3 715 x 1024 164K |
Higher up here. Above the pub some old signwriting on the stone tenement has not faded much, maybe because it's facing north. They must have had better red pigment then. In Edinburgh you may see the logo with the red faded away: DINB RGH |
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Fleshmarket Close 2/4 680 x 1024 209K |
The pub is presumably called the Halfway House as it's halfway up (or down). Being a Free House, it's not owned by a brewery. |
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Fleshmarket Close 2/5 901 x 1024 222K |
Almost at the top, next to Cockburn Street. The close continues across the road and ends at the High Street. |
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Inverleith
Park 1280 x 802 369K |
Inverleith Pond is alive and well and populated mainly by swans. This crane heron is an exception. |
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Dean
Terrace 1280 x 850 378K |
Looking south west up Dean Terrace from its junction with Deanhaugh Street. This street is perched on the banks of the Water of Leith and leads up to Carlton Street, Danube Street and Ann Street. |
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Deanhaugh
St 680 x 1024 178K |
This is part of the Main Road. At this corner it changes its name to Raeburn Place as it continues west. The sidestreet called St Bernard's Row is closed to traffic at this point. |
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St
Stephen's Street 6 591 x 1024 192K |
Basements and sub-basements add to the the fascinating nature of this street. |
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St
Stephen's Street 7 680 x 1024 237K |
A second view of this shop. |
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St
Stephen's Street 8 824 x 1024 287K |
A view down to the basement - with a glimpse of the sub-basement. |
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St
Stephen's Street 9 1280 x 940 289K |
Dance for All at The Theatre School states the sign beside the front door. This view shows the side of the building and the basement. |
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St
Stephen's 6 1280 x 850 222K |
Three more views at St Stephen's Church, an impressive looking building as you descend from George Street and Queen Street. |
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St
Stephen's 7 703 x 1024 169K |
There have been some changes to the east of the church including a pedestrianised area behing the traffic bollards. |
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St
Stephen's 8 1280 x 848 278K |
This view shows the cobbled lane Cumberland Street North West Lane on the right and the unnamed 'street' behind the pillars. As of November 2009 none of my maps show the street name. |
From The Bridges area - page 3
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Photographed from near the Market Street entrance to Waverley Station. There are still legible markings on the building from the time the premises belonged to The Scotsman and Evening News newspapers. | |
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A wider view. Just to the left of The Scotsman building is North Bridge, accessible via the spiral stone stairway in the centre of the picture. | |
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A vertical shot of the same scene, showing the full height of the buildings. |
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East
End 1280 x 850 234K |
Photographed November 2009, a similar shot showing a wider view from a few steps back. | ||
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Another '60s monstrosity is to bite the (asbestos laden) dust. | |
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It's nearly 2010 and the concrete construction persists. | |
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A private carpark for the privileged few. |
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The end of November 2009 and there's a rush on to reopen Princes Street (albeit temporarily) for Christmas. This is the Hanover Street junction at the foot of The Mound. | |
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A hive of activity (of the standing about talking variety). I'm sure the workers would rather keep busy but logistics or management can't always be perfect. | |
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The sign directs pedestrians to a shortcut through East Princes Street Gardens but only during daylight hours. Today, 28th November, the sun sets at 1547 meaning late afternoon shoppers may have extra distance to walk. |
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If you walk down Upper Bow from the roundabout at the top of the High Street then you'll find these steps down to Victoria Street and the Grassmarket, or you can turn left along Victoria Terrace to George IV Bridge - or right for Johnston Terrace. | |
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This building is being partially rebuilt after the fire. At the far end of Victoria Terrace is the comparatively new building - which is better looking than its predecessor. |
From South Side page 1
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Bertram's
rubber stamp 777 x 438 119K |
St Katherine's Works, Sciennes, Edinburgh is no more. I bought the rubber stamp from a junk shop which existed for a while in the former 'steamie' (public laundry) in Causewayside, a continuation of Summerhall. I flipped the image horizontally to make it legible. |
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Sciennes
Place Summerhall 1280 x 854 290K |
Sciennes Place combined with Sciennes and Summerhall form a narrow triangle with no room for houses at the section of Sciennes pictured. Where the houses in Summerhall and Sciennes Place meet there's this strange corner with assorted windows crammed together. |
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Sciennes
Place Summerhall 2 1280 x 854 363K |
A few paces to the north shows the grassy triangle at the rear of Summerhall and some basement windows. These two pictures taken in 2009. |
From Edinburgh North West page 9
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A transatlantic sounding name for a comparatively recently constructed street, the exception being this old brick building at the corner of West Shore Road. | |
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A cyclist coming from Granton heads west towards Silverknowes. | |
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West Shore Road has been messy and untidy as further developments are awaited. Car firms park vehicles on the few footpaths there are, creating a hazard. Behind the fence on the right is a footpath / cyclepath to which there is currently no access. Another section of the same path is open further south (k9 challenge). | |
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Looking west towards Granton and Leith. | |
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Facing east towards the rest of Silverknowes Promenade and Cramond. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond - Dreghorn, Glenlockhart, Golf Tavern, Greenhill, Greenbank
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Pitlsligo Road has had some changes in 2009. New luxury homes have replaced former sheletered housing, and opposite there the former BT (British Telecom) premises have been vacated. This was a somewhat incongruous presence in the expensive leafy suburbs where the likes of Fred 'the shred' of the Royal Bank of Scotland hang out. |
From Views from Salisbury Crags
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Crags
0911 1280 x 854 350K |
Six photos from the Radical Road at the foot of Salisbury Crags. Whilst boots are recommended for walking along the top of the crags, normal shoes are OK here. |
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Crags
0911a 1280 x 854 266K |
In this age of litigation disclaimers are everywhere including here. At the top of the crags the authorities depend on our natural fear of heights rather than post signs stating the obvious. |
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Crags
0911b 1280 x 854 340K |
This view illustrates the geology quite well. The figure perched at the top shows the scale. |
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Crags
0911c 1280 x 854 236K |
The sun occasionally broke through the clouds drifting off the sea on this November day. |
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Cragsview
61 Sunny Leith 1280 x 927 185K |
Sunny Leith and sunny Burntisland town across the Firth of Forth. |
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Cragsview
62 Sunny Leith 1280 x 903 201K |
This view shows sunny Leith and the caravans near Kinghorn in Fife. |
From Bruntsfield & Beyond page Meadows, Merchiston, Midmar, Morningside
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Two photos from 2003 and 2004 added in November 2009 after a glass panel fell from the roof and injured a swimmer. | |
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The previous view was from the shallow end, this view of the roof is from the deep end and shows more of the Victorian architechture. |
From Leith and Leith Street page 18
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Just over a year has elapsed since the Cube works above. In November 2009 the building seems almost ready but the Calton Hill road is still closed to traffic. | |
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Pedestrians do still have access and can climb the steep lane called Calton Hill up to Calton Hill itself. It's well worth the effort for scenic views in all directions. | |
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The roadway behind the fence looks rather untidy but it should be cleaned up soon and the occasional brave motorist should once again be able to drive up and down - unless they make it a one-way street. | |
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At the top of this narrow passageway are the old houses, at least one of which has had its view totally cut off. It's perhaps not such a loss as the view was of the dirty concrete walls of the St James Shopping Centre. | |
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Added later, this earlier photo shows the ground being prepared after the previous bridge was removed. For a while, the old house above the site had uninterrupted views... | |
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Again, added later, a photo of the old bridge, taken in 2001. | |
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The old bridge was boxy and ugly but at least it took you a significant way up Calton Hill. Now you must descend steps to Leith Street before climbing up again. | |
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Looking over the top of the bendy bridge to Leith Street. | |
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From one of the paths round Calton Hill is this view through the autumn leaves. | |
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A broader view from the same path. Beside the bridge a smoker lurks outside the building for a cigarette and another person sits on the steps having her lunch. |
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At the top of Middle Meadow Walk low winter sun shines on a vintage bus taking visitors round the corner of Forrest Road and Teviot Place. | |
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Autumn foliage on this tree at the north west corner of George Square Gardens. Salisbury Crags are in the far distance. | |
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Renovation work at the top of Middle Meadow Walk opposite the new Quartermile development at the old Royal Infirmary. |
From Grassmarket and Cowgate page 12
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A view from down below near the bottom of Blair Street a few days later shows that the fencing has been removed but there's still so sign of any construction. | |
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Looking up Blair Street early November 2009. At the top of the hill the sun is shining on the corner of the High Street and Cockburn Street. | |
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In the Cowgate, not far from the junction with St Mary's Street and the Pleasance is this stairway leading up to High School Yards and Infirmary Street. It's been closed for quite a long time now. | |
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Sadly, this continuing neglect contributes to the lacklustre image of the Cowgate. More information about High School Yards from the University of Edinburgh. Instead of an attractive stone stairway we have an electronic sign telling car drivers where they can park. | |
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It's doubtful that even a charity shop would want the Concrete Wardrobe's empty premises when they have their pick of busier streets. |
Earlier updates have been removed from this page.
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