Disclosure of interests: I was sent free copies of these maps as a gift and have opted to write this review on a voluntary basis. I have no business connections with any of the companies or businesses mentioned in the…
Blog Archives
New maps help find nature nearby in Edinburgh and Glasgow
Tagged with: cartography, Edinburgh, Glasgow, natural history, Rob Bushby, urban good
Posted in Book reviews, Cycling and bikes, Edinburgh, Maps, Pentlands
Posted in Book reviews, Cycling and bikes, Edinburgh, Maps, Pentlands
Urban Geology meets Urban Nature Maps
Edinburgh is a great city to be a geologist in. So much rock is exposed within the city bounds and there is a considerable variety in lithology, if not geological age. While the commanding heights of the seven hills (Arthur’s…
Tagged with: Edinburgh, Geodiversity, map, Social Good, urban nature
Posted in Book reviews, Edinburgh, Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Maps, Scotland, Woodlands
Posted in Book reviews, Edinburgh, Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Maps, Scotland, Woodlands
The evidence of craggers not seen
Under lockdown, I’ve followed my renewed interest in climbing outdoors by visiting my local crags in southern Edinburgh. We are exceptionally lucky, as Blackford Hill contains two cragging sites, as well as the bouldering problems associated with Agassiz Rock. Even…
Pavement Palaeontology in the press
Back in the dark days of December I took Teddy Jameson, a senior features writer for the Herald, and his colleague Gordon round some sites in central Edinburgh. Most of the sites are ones that I visit on the Pavement…
Snakestone specimen in the Cockburn
Dactilyoceras commune is a Lower Jurassic ammonoid often found in the sea cliffs of the Yorkshire Coast. Around Whitby they are common enough to feature on the coat of arms of the town in triplicate. However, these ammonoids have heads…
Hills of Hame now offering some urban exploration of Edinburgh via Airbnb experiences
Fossil fish and ammonoids on the streets beside famous landmarks? Hiking within sight of the centre of Edinburgh, but not among the crowds in Holyrood Park? Hills of Hame has offered these experiences, and others, since start-up in 2014. However, uptake from…
Tagged with: Edinburgh, Fossils, Geology, Walking
Posted in Geological Walks, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland
Posted in Geological Walks, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland
A walk in the Craigmillar WIAT (Woods in and Around Towns)
The days are getting shorter, so the chance to get out and top up the Vitamin D whenever I fancy is one of the undoubted benefits of self-employment. When I can combine it with some geological work, even better. Hills…
Tagged with: Archaeology, Craigmillar, Edinburgh, Geology, Outdoor, WIAT
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland, Woodlands
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland, Woodlands
Visiting Edinburgh’s seaside- Seafield, Portobello, Joppa
The car had been booked in for a service, so Shadow and I went out to drop it off and visit his old pre-adoption part of Edinburgh, Seafield. My previous experiences in the area have mostly been running or geology-related.…
Tagged with: Edinburgh, geological history, Outdoor, Scotland, Walking
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban), Scotland
Harlaw Reservoir wanderings
Harlaw is part of a network of reservoirs that were built in the 19th century to supply the city with clean, fresh water. The network now extends deep into the Scottish Borders around Talla but the Pentland Hills contain numerous…
Tagged with: Edinburgh, Geology, Outdoor, Walking
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (low-level), Pentlands, Scotland, Uncategorized
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (low-level), Pentlands, Scotland, Uncategorized
Earthcache workshop
Spent a few hours out at the Educational Centre in Holyrood Park this morning finding out about Earthcaches at an event organised by the Scottish Geodiversity Forum. Earthcaches are a subset of geocaches. What makes them different is that they…
Tagged with: Earthcache, Earthcaching, Edinburgh, Geocache
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban)
Posted in Geodiversity, Geological Walks (urban)
Hills of Hame 