Holyrood Park

Continuing our walk around Holyrood Park, we were delighted to see some fine views across the surrounding countryside. Here, we were looking across to Duddingston Loch and the Pentland Hills in the distance.

We were not the only ones who seemed to be enjoying the views. The local Jackdaws are a noisy presence as they flit about, but this one at least managed to sit still for a few seconds to allow a couple of shots. This one seemed to be admiring the large, white building of Prestonfield Golf Club...

...while keeping one beady eye on us at all times.

Looking in a slightly different direction, the view takes in the centre of Edinburgh and specifically, the Castle in the distance. At the time of our visit, the castle esplanade was still dominated by the enormous seating structure, erected for the famous Edinburgh Tattoo.

Continuing the view around, we looked out across the Firth of Forth towards Dunfirmline.

A lovely walk and some lovely views too.  What could be better?

Arthur's Seat

Moving on from st Anthony's chapel, we set out for a walk around Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat. Formed about 350 million years ago, the rocky heart of Holyrood Park is the solidified inside of a volcanic system which includes the rock on which Edinburgh Castle is built.

The rest of the volcano was eroded away by glaciers moving from west to east, finally exposing the harder, rocky crags about two million years ago. The cliffs are made of Dolerite and Columnar Basalt.

A couple of small lochs are to be found around the park. These are not natural features, but were constructed by Prince Albert as part of wider improvements made to the park in the mid 1850 which included the road which circles the park, known as Queen's Drive.

Coming to the end of our walk around the park, we came back to st Margaret's Loch. Another of Prince Albert's improvements, St Margaret's is popular with tourists and wildfowl alike. Ducks, geese and Swans are always present, as are the pigeons. And all constantly overlooked by St Anthony's Chapel on the hill above.

St Anthony's

Setting out for a walk around Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat, we took a short detour to have a closer look at a ruinous building which we have hitherto only seen from a  distance.

Holyrood Park is a royal park which contains crags, lochs grassy slopes and some stunning views across the city. St Anthony's Chapel has an uncertain origin. It is thought that the land on which the chapel stands was once owned by Kelso Abbey, but exactly when it was built is not known. Despite the ownership of Kelso Abbey, it must have had close links to the nearby Holyrood Abbey just a few hundred yards away.

St Anthony's must have been built no later than the early 15th century as it is recorded that repairs to the chapel were paid for by the Pope in 1426.  We have some idea of what the chapel must have looked like when in decent repair from a description in Hugo Arnot's 'History of Edinburgh' of 1799 where he describes it as "A beautiful Gothic building, well suited to the rugged sublimity of the rock... At it's west end, there was a tower...about 40ft high. On the info board which accompanies the ruin, there is a handy, artist's impression...

Inside, the chapel would have been divided into three parts and there was probably a spiral stair in the tower.

Traces of a vaulted ceiling are still visible, as are the remains of what was thought to be a hermit's cell built into the rocks to the west of the chapel. It is now thought more likely that this 'cell' was a storehouse for the chapel. Whatever the history, one thing is clear, from such a vantage point, the attendees of this little chapel on the hill, would have had some wonderful views of the surrounding area. Here, looking towards Calton Hill and Holyrood Palace in the foreground...

... and here, looking over what is now St Margaret's Loch - although this was only constructed in 1856 by Prince Albert as part of his improvements to the park.

A beautiful place for a walk!

Edinburgh

We got back yesterday afternoon, from a few lovely days away in the fair city of Edinburgh. This was the third time we have spent a few days in the city and the third time we have been lucky with the weather - something of a record for Scotland!  On Monday, after flying up from East Midlands Airport, we checked in to the Travelodge before getting out and about for a walk up to Calton Hill.

At about 500ft, the hill gives some lovely views across the city and over the Holyrood area towards Arthur's Seat.

Calton Hill is topped with several interesting buildings and monuments including possibly the most impressive of them all, the unfinished National Monument, dedicated to the soldiers and sailors who died in the Napoleonic Wars.

The monument remained unfinished because, in 1829 - as is so often the case - the money ran out. Despite it having been called Scotland's disgrace because of the circumstances, it has turned out to be a wonderful sight.

The highest part of the hill is dominated by the tallest building. Nelson's Monument. Finished in 1815 to commemorate Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805, it replaced an earlier signalling mast which once stood on the spot.

Above the entrance, a plaque is carved with following...

To the memory of Vice-Admiral Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, and of the great victory of Trafalgar, too dearly purchased with his blood, the grateful citizens of Edinburgh have erected this monument: not to express their unavailing sorrow for his death; nor yet to celebrate this matchless glories of his life; but, by his noble example, to teach their sons to emulate what they admire, and, like him, when duty requires it, to die for their country.

A.D. MDCCCV

More to come...

Harnser

This morning, with grey clouds scudding across the sky and the threat of rain hanging over us, we set out around the lakes of Straw's Bridge. At 'Swan Lake', we found something else grey - a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea).

Unusually for a Heron, this particular bird was more intent on searching for fish than worrying about us walking past. As a result, on any bright day, a few good shots would have been possible, but as the weather was as grey as the heron itself, photos were a little tricky.

If you are wondering about the title of this post, the word 'Harnser' is the name given to herons in my native Norfolk. The derivation of the word is not clear, but it may stem from 'Harnser' being used also as a name for a Goose, the Latin for which is Anser.  Wherever the word comes from, "here's an ol' harnser."

Sadly, fishermen were once responsible for the near demise of this spectacular bird. It was noted that Herons had great success while fishing in the shallows and, not having much going on between the ears, fishermen decided it was because the fish were somehow attracted to the herons' legs. The result of this misconception was that herons were caught and killed whereupon their legs would be cut of and chopped into small pieces for use as ground-bait to attract more fish.  Thankfully, most (sadly not all) fishermen are somewhat better educated these days and heron numbers have recovered.

Shield

This morning's walk had to be somewhat truncated as Malcolm had an appointment at the asthma clinic. But, on returning home, I was pottering in the garden, when a small insect caught my eye as it scrambled among the leaves of a chili pepper plant.

It turns out to be a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina).  Shieldbugs have a rather interesting life story, starting as all insects do, as an egg and hatching into a larval form.  It is after this larval form when things get more tricky as the insect moults as it grows and passes through four nymphal stages - often referred to as instars.

This little chap appears to be in the fourth and final instar before moulting one last time into the full adult form. It is in this adult form that the creature will overwinter in a state of hibernation, emerging in Spring next year to breed and start the whole cycle off again. A charming little creature - time to return it to the chili plant.

Devil's Nettle

This morning's walk was dominated by the sight of an unusual plant.  Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a common enough plant and is frequently seen, growing along the footpaths and scrubby areas.  The plant usually has inflorescences of white flowers on a plant covered with feathery leaves but a couple of them this morning didn't have the normal, white flowers, but deep pink.

Yarrow has many common names.  In various places they are known as Nose-bleed plants, Old Man's Pepper, Soldier's Woundwort and of course, Devil's Nettle.

Most of these common names are derived from the plant having been use in times gone by, as a method of staunching the flow of blood and helping with the healing of wounds.

As the plant also contains Salicylic acid (a constituent of aspirin), it may also have proven useful in reducing pain from the wound. Very useful!