Pictures of Edinburgh

The Starflyer

rock_dinosaur — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:29:43 GMT

The Starflyer, which is an annual feature of Edinburgh's Winter Festival, seen from Waverley Station as I awaited my train to Dunfermline in the sunny afternoon of 16th December, 2025. Apparently, it's 80m tall (about 250ft). Fuck going on that, that's all I can say!

Night views in the High Street

rock_dinosaur — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:20:57 GMT

John Knox House, a very old building at the foot of the High Street, Edinburgh, which dates from 1470 according to Wikipedia. It was reputedly occupied by John Knox, the preacher and Protestant religious reformer, during the 1500s.

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, from the top of the Canongate in the early evening of 4th January, 2026.

Another view up the High Street, Edinburgh, from the top of the Canongate in the early evening of 4th January, 2026.

A dusting of snow

rock_dinosaur — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:29:23 GMT

The view from my kitchen window during a shower of snow at twenty-past-nine in the morning of 9th January, 2026.

Edinburgh on a winter evening

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:25:38 GMT

As I made my way up St. Mary's Street and along Jeffrey Street in the late afternoon of 1st February, 2026, I saw this most unusual cloud formation on the northern horizon. Later, when I spoke to my mother on the phone, she said the night sky was lit up in bright orange to the east of her house in Dunfermline. As I'd suspected, it turned out to be due to the flaring of excess gas as a result of a malfunction of some sort at the Fife Ethylene Plant at Moss Morran, near Cowdenbeath. Apparently this contravenes some environmental protection law and the owners of the plant were fined several hundred thousand pounds last time it happened. I doubt if a massively profitable multi-national oil corporation (ExxonMobil) will be too concerned about that though.

The World's End pub at the foot of the High Street, Edinburgh, in the evening of 1st February, 2026. I always think traditional pubs look so warm and inviting on cold winter nights.

Immediately adjacent and just around the corner at the top of my street (St. Mary's Street), is The Waverley. I've only been in it once, but it must have been a long time ago as I don't remember why, when or with whom. I note that it has a poster in the window advertising a pub quiz on Tuesday nights with a prize of £60.

A warm and sunny spring day

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:53:47 GMT

A view from The Mound towards the Scott Monument and the Balmoral Hotel in the warm and sunny late afternoon of 21st March, 2026.

Another view from The Mound towards the Scott Monument and the Balmoral Hotel in the warm and sunny late afternoon of 21st March, 2026.

A view from The Mound towards the Balmoral Hotel in the warm and sunny late afternoon of 21st March, 2026.

Another view from The Mound towards the Balmoral Hotel in the warm and sunny late afternoon of 21st March, 2026.

While I was away in Dunfermline, the tree in the green behind my flat produced its spectacular white blossom. There was a constant procession of Chinese students posing for photos in front of it last year. Seen from my kitchen window on 21st March, 2026.

Narcissi in St. Andrew Square

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:34:32 GMT

Although it's been three or four weeks since they began to bloom, there are still plenty of daffodils and narcissi to be seen. These were by the tram stop in St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 8th April, 2026.

Princes Street Gardens

rock_dinosaur — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:45:12 GMT

A view from Princes Street Gardens towards buildings on The Mound and in the Old Town in the late afternoon of 4th May, 2026.

A view towards Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Gardens on 4th May, 2026, with parts of the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy in the foreground.

A south-eastward view from Princes Street Gardens towards the Old Town of Edinburgh on 4th May, 2026.

A northward view from the St. James Centre

rock_dinosaur — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:56:41 GMT

A view towards Leith Walk and the Firth of Forth from a north-facing external window in the St. James Centre, Edinburgh, on 25th April, 2026.

Wildfire on Arthur's Seat

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:59:20 GMT

A wildfire on the northern flanks of Arthur's Seat in the evening of 25th May, 2026.

I took several similar photos from my bedroom window, but didn't manage to capture the flames at their height.

From Roseburn to Slateford

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:52:18 GMT

Murrayfield Stadium, the home ground of Scottish Rugby Union, seen from the Water of Leith Walkway near the start of my walk from Roseburn on 31st May, 2026. It looks huge from that angle.

A seat carved from a tree-trunk seen by the Water of Leith Walkway near Roseburn on 31st May, 2026. It doesn't look very comfortable, but I suppose it depends on how far you've walked!

I saw this in an area of allotment gardens by the Water of Leith Walkway between Gorgie Road and Slateford on 31st May, 2026. Maybe it's a novel kind of scarecrow!

Leith Docks and Princes Street Gardens

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:03:21 GMT

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry HEBRIDES berthed at Leith Docks on 17th April, 2026, with huge off-shore wind-turbine components awaiting installation in the North Sea behind.

Huge huge off-shore wind-turbine components by the entrance channel to Leith Docks, awaiting installation in the North Sea on 17th April, 2026.

The tug vessel CAMPERDOWN entering Leith Docks on 17th April, 2026, with rows of huge off-shore wind-turbine components awaiting installation in the North Sea behind.

The tug vessel CAMPERDOWN entering Leith Docks on 17th April, 2026.

The tug vessel CAMPERDOWN entering Leith Docks and passing the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry HEBRIDES moored behind on 17th April, 2026.

Huge areas of disused former industrial land in Leith Docks are rapidly being filled with these hideous, characterless blocks of flats which owe nothing to Scottish architecture and could be anywhere in the world. They may be nice enough inside, but outwardly they are no better than the worst of 1960s brutalism, many examples of which have recently been demolished, and not before time. I won't be around to see it, but I'd be surprised if these blocks last for more than thirty or forty years. Anyone can see they're architectural garbage.

A cherry tree in blossom in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, with part of Edinburgh Castle behind, on 17th April, 2026.

A cherry tree in blossom in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, with part of Edinburgh Castle behind, on 17th April, 2026.

An eastward view towards The Mound in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, on 17th April, 2026.

The bronze statue of Wojtek the bear, a Second World War mascot of the Polish army in Scotland, seen in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, on 17th April, 2026.

An eastward view over a bed of spring flowers in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, on 17th April, 2026.

An eastward view over a bed of spring flowers in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, on 17th April, 2026.

A view towards Ramsay Garden on Castlehill, Edinburgh, from West Princes Street Gardens on 17th April, 2026.

March and Rally for Independence

rock_dinosaur — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:50:44 GMT

I took part in the March and Rally for Independence which was held in Edinburgh on 21st September, 2013, to mark one year before the independence referendum, which was held on 18th September, 2014. It was a dismal and grey but pleasantly mild day, and there was a very happy and positive atmosphere amongst the marchers. According to the BBC, 8,000 participated in the event, but I'd have put the numbers at several times that. I think they simply plucked that figure out of thin air. Of course, the media always plays down anything that threatens the status quo and their positions of entrenched privilege and power. Anyway, I took a few photos.

The March for Independence assembling in the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

The March for Independence assembling in the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

Pandas amongst The March for Independence at the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013. The one on the right had a placard saying, 'Eats shoots and believes', a pun on the Lynn Truss book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

Placards at the March for Independence in the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

Placards and flags at the March for Independence in the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

An anti-war protester at the foot of North Bridge during the March for Independence, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

The Rally for Independence on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

The Rally for Independence on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

A view towards the Firth of Forth, Inchkeith and Fife from Calton Hill during the Rally for Independence, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

A view towards Nelson's Monument during the Rally for Independence on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on 21st September, 2013.

Here is how the BBC's 'Reporting Scotland' reported the event. On this occasion, they went beyond their usual highly slanted and selective style of reporting and actually broadcast an entirely staged 'Better Together' event in order to divert attention from the independence rally. The BBC justifies manufacturing news in this way on the basis of balanced reporting; however, this is a prime example of why the BBC is held in contempt by a large section of Scotland's population.

See Identity Parade on the very excellent Wings Over Scotland web-site for a fuller report on this issue.

The Old Town on a mid-winter evening

rock_dinosaur — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:53:59 GMT

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view down the High Street, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view down the High Street, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, towards the Lawnmarket and Edinburgh Castle from outside St. Giles Cathedral in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, towards the Lawnmarket and Edinburgh Castle from outside St. Giles Cathedral in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

The west elevation of St. Giles Cathedral in the High Street, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view from The Mound towards the big wheel, the Scott Monument and the Starflyer in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

A view from The Mound towards the big wheel, the Scott Monument and the Starflyer in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, in the early evening of 28th December, 2025.

The Water of Leith at Commercial Street, Leith

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:13:15 GMT

The Ocean Mist moored on the Water of Leith at The Shore, Leith, in the late afternoon of 3rd November, 2025.

A view down the Water of Leith from the bridge in Commercial Street, Leith, towards Leith Docks in the late afternoon of 3rd November, 2025.

Buildings in The Shore on the east side of the Water of Leith viewed from the bridge in Commercial Street in the late afternoon of 3rd November, 2025.

A view up the Water of Leith from the bridge at Commercial Street, Leith, in the late afternoon of 3rd November, 2025.

A view up the Water of Leith from the bridge at Commercial Street, Leith, in the late afternoon of 3rd November, 2025.

On Calton Hill at sunset

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:16:23 GMT

A northward view over the Firth of Forth from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with Benarty, West Lomond and Falkland Hill, Fife, on the horizon.

A north-eastward view over the Firth of Forth from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025. Leith Walk is the road running from the left to the centre of the photo, with Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth beyond.

A northward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with some of the many sightseers and tourists taking in the spectacular scene.

A north-westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with the tops of the Forth Bridges visible in the centre horizon.

A northward view over the Firth of Forth from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with Benarty, West Lomond and Falkland Hill, Fife, on the horizon. Note the ship carrying the huge masts for offshore wind turbines leaving Leith Docks on the right of the photo.

The National Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

Nelson's Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

The National Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

The spire of the Tolbooth Kirk, Edinburgh Castle, the clock-tower of the Balmoral Hotel and the Scott Monument viewed in silhouette against the low evening sun from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, on 11th October, 2025.

'The Golden Turd' (a ridiculous-looking hotel) viewed from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A northward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025. The street in the foreground is the upper part of Leith Walk.

A north-eastward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A south-westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, towards the spire of the Tolbooth Kirk, Edinburgh Castle, the clock-tower of the Balmoral Hotel and the Scott Monument.

Crowds of sightseers by the Dugald Stewart Memorial on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A south-westward view towards the Dugald Stewart Memorial on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

Crowds of tourists and sightseers on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A south-westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with the Dugald Stewart Monument in the left foreground.

A south-westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with the Dugald Stewart Monument in the left foreground.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with the Dugald Stewart Monument in the right foreground.

Observatory House on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon on 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, with the Dugald Stewart Monument and the Edinburgh skyline in silhouette against the setting sun in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, with the Dugald Stewart Monument and the Edinburgh skyline in silhouette against the setting sun in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025, with Princes Street on the right of the photo.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, towards the clock tower of the Balmoral Hotel and Princes Street in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A view towards Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A view towards Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A view towards the cloud-shrouded Pentland Hills from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A view towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

Observatory House on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A westward view down Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, towards Princes Street in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

A view from Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh, towards Calton Hill in the late afternoon of 11th October, 2025.

The High Street on a sunny afternoon

rock_dinosaur — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:15:29 GMT

A view down the High Street, Edinburgh, from the bus stop at the Museum of Childhood on 16th July, 2025.

A view down the High Street, Edinburgh, from the bus stop at the Museum of Childhood on 16th July, 2025.

A view down the High Street, Edinburgh, from the bus stop at the Museum of Childhood on 16th July, 2025.

Views from Regent Road

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:41:20 GMT

A southward view from the highest point of Regent Road towards the Canongate and Salisbury Crags, circa May 1999. The first flat I occupied when I moved to Edinburgh in 1993, at Dunbar's Close in the Canongate, can be seen above the group of trees towards the left of the photo. Canongate Kirk and Burial Ground are towards the right. At the bottom-left, one of Edinburgh's best-known music venues, Calton Studios (later Studio 24), can be seen.

A southward view from the highest point of Regent Road towards the Canongate and Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh, circa May 1999.

A south-westward view from the highest point of Regent Road towards the Old Town of Edinburgh, North Bridge and Waverley Station, circa May 1999. The massive SMT bus garage in the lower left of the photo was demolished some years ago to make way for the so-called Caltongate development.

A southward view from the highest point of Regent Road towards the Canongate and Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh, circa May 1999.

A view down Regent Road, Edinburgh, towards the Royal High School and Abbeyhill, circa May 1999.

Actual sunshine?! What?!!

rock_dinosaur — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:26:33 GMT

Edinburgh had its third day of sunshine and clear blue skies in a week on 20th March, 2025. This was the Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens in the early afternoon. I had to wait about ten minutes while tourists took selfies in front of the monument before I could take this photo. I'm not usually so patient!

Robertson's Close

rock_dinosaur — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:05:29 GMT

A view down Robertson's Close, Edinburgh, from Infirmary Street to the Cowgate in the evening of 18th February, 2025.

The absurd workings of capitalism

rock_dinosaur — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 09:45:42 GMT

A view of the entrance to the recently-opened St. James Quarter shopping centre which occupies the site of the former St. James Centre in Edinburgh, on 19th December, 2021.
I don't think the new building has much to commend it (it consists of the same asymmetric jumble of square boxes as is the current fashion everywhere, and it could be in any city anywhere in the world), but it's probably slightly less of an eyesore than the utterly grotesque concrete lump which it has replaced. I visited it for the first time today, and found that, as expected, it contains all the usual generic high street chainstores, but I was surprised to find that almost all of the shop units have been occupied. The shops are on three levels: basement, ground and first floor. I was on a mission to procure zinc tablets but I didn't know where Superdrug was and couldn't find a plan of the shopping centre. However, when I passed by Boots in the basement, I guessed correctly that Superdrug wouldn't be far away. In fact, it was the next-but-one shop along. This is precisely in accordance with the absurd workings of capitalism, whereby attempting to deny market-share to competitors is considered to be more important than locating shops where they will be of the greatest benefit to customers.

A view of the entrance to the St. James Quarter shopping centre at the top of Leith Street, Edinburgh, on 19th December, 2021.

The High Street at night

rock_dinosaur — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 01:12:52 GMT

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, in the evening of 16th February, 2025.

A view up the High Street, Edinburgh, in the evening of 16th February, 2025.

At Brunton Place, London Road

rock_dinosaur — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:56:55 GMT

Foxgloves in a garden at Brunton Place, London Road, Edinburgh, on 26th June, 2018. I presume foxgloves aren't as toxic to ants or bees as they are said to be to humans.

Beautiful yellow roses in a garden at Brunton Place, London Road, Edinburgh, on 26th June, 2018.

Trundling around town

rock_dinosaur — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:42:01 GMT

A beautiful dahlia flower in a garden at Brunton Place, London Road, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A north-westward view along George IV Bridge towards the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A north-westward view along George IV Bridge towards the High Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

The old house of typical Scottish style which is occupied by The Pear Tree, a popular pub in West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A date plaque on The Pear Tree at West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A spectacular display of begonias and fuchsias at The Pear Tree, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

Beautiful begonias and fuchsias still providing a mass of colour at The Pear Tree, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

Begonias at The Pear Tree, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A beautiful fuchsia flower at The Pear Tree, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

A spectacular display of begonias and fuchsias at The Pear Tree, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on 21st October, 2019.

Owls

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 18:38:21 GMT

A lady displaying an owl in the High Street, Edinburgh, in the afternoon of 6th September, 2019.

A lady displaying an owl in the High Street, Edinburgh, in the afternoon of 6th September, 2019.

A lady displaying an owl in the High Street, Edinburgh, in the afternoon of 6th September, 2019. That's some size of a bird.

A lady displaying an owl in the High Street, Edinburgh, in the afternoon of 6th September, 2019.

Nicolson Street

rock_dinosaur — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:03:42 GMT

A northward view along Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, from outside the Oxfam bookshop in the warm and sunny afternoon of 21st September, 2019.