June

George

Edinburgh): Slateford – Union Canal – Water of Leith Walkway – Colinton – Tunnel – Juniper Green – Currie and then though Lymphoy Estate to Balerno. Finished off walking along Princes Street Gardens.

Very heavy rain at first, which cleared to give the occasional sunny spell.

George, Ken, Diane, Richard, Sandy, Ron.

Michael and Michelle - flying to America

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We travelled by train to Edinburgh. The train was one hour late in arriving in Edinburgh due to trains being immobilised by a fault in the overhead electrical wires. We were joined by Evelyn and Dorothy who went their own ways after we eventually arrived at the Waverley. Evelyn visited Dynamic Earth and the Portrait Gallery, while Dorothy went shopping.

We began by taking the bus to Slateford Aqueduct. The rain eased after we got off the bus. We climbed up steep stairs to the Union Canal and started to walk long the tow path, crossed another aqueduct over the Water of Leith. After about a mile we branched on to the course of the old railway line to Balerno, which follows the line of the Water of Leith along the side of a wooded dell.

We ate our lunch in Colinton Tunnel, where it was dry and we could admire the murals and artwork.. Adorning the wall are murals dedicated to Robert Louis Stevenson, who grew up nearby as well as a depiction of when the railway operated. After lunch we continued along the walkway to Currie, where we left the walkway and joined the track through the Lymphoy Estate to Balerno, where we took the bus back into the city.

We alighted from the bus at the West End and walked along Princes Street Gardens. We passed the statue of Wojtech the bear, the mascot of the Polish Forces in Italy in WWII, and the floral clock at the foot of the Mound.

Wildlife: Deer in Lymphoy Estate, three grey squirrels in Currie Kirkyard and a heron on the Water of Leith, rabbits, wagtails.  Lots of birdsong in the trees. White sheep with black muzzles, and several thoroughbred horses.

Amarone’s in St. Andrew Square. Good Italian fare.

June Walkers minus one

Union Canal

Amazing Mural

Murals in Colinton Tunnel

Further Tunnel Murals

Closeup of Tunnel Mural

Water of Leith Rubbing

Water of Leith

Sandy makes friends with Wojtech

Scott Memorial, Princes Street

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Grand Hall of Portrait Gallery

Returning to Waverley Station