Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/nigeljohnwade/

Looking for a breezy, sunny spot to while away the hours on a warm. dry Scottish day? Look no further than The Meadows, a beautiful field where  in summer Edinburgh’s residents gather with bottles of beer and wine and picnics to feed themselves, their friends and families while impromptu games of soccer and frisbee take place across the span of these beautiful green spaces. In Winter, the Meadows plays host to cyclists, jogging groups, parents with children and while its patrons are perhaps not as relaxed as during the long summer days, there is still a lovely atmosphere.

The Meadows host two fantastic children’s play  parks, which are always bustling full of children happily playing. The play park at the South side has nearby (clean) toilet facilities and local coffee houses. It is an ideal meeting place for young families, ensuring their off spring catch up on ‘fresh air’ and they catch up with friends. The play park  located at the Bruntsfield end is more geared towards younger children.

But despite it’s appeal with Edinburgh residents and visitors alike, The Meadows were not always a place for relaxation. A little scroll back through history depicts The Meadows at the centre of Edinburgh’s Bubonic Plague outbreaks. During those outbreaks, the fields that now lend grassy relaxation areas to the individuals who visit were sites for the burying of the recently dead – what a macabre thought to greet visitors on a summer’s day!

Phot Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/bods/

The Meadows are easily accessible from Tollcross and Southside, as well as Bruntsfield, and are only a short bus ride or walk from the Royal Mile. They are far enough from the center of town that they draw a crowd made up more of locals and students than of tourists, making them ideal for relaxed afternoons. As long as the weather is dry, The Meadows has vast expanses of open space to kick a football, throw a frisbee, walk along the paths, cycle, stop for coffee at the Starbucks or simply a stroll through some city greenery.

Bruntsfield Links, Present and Past

Bruntsfield Links shares a great deal in common with other members of the city parks system, but is located far enough outside the city centre that it attracts smaller (though still substantial) crowds during sunny weather.

The pitch 'n' putt golf course in Bruntsfield Links.

[image credit: Daveybot]

Surrounded by hotels and elegant flats, Bruntsfield Links has a pitch ‘n’ putt golf course and the park attracts joggers and dog walkers, although it is not as spacious as the nearby Meadows and bigger sports games rarely organise on the site.

View from Bruntsfield Links towards Barclay Church with Edinburgh Castle in the background.

[image credit: Daveybot]

Bruntsfield Links falls to the west of Meadow Park, and is bordered by Bruntsfield Place, Bruntsfield Terrace, and Bruntsfield Crescent, with Whit Ehouse Loan acting as a border between the two public parks. At times, the borders and uses of Bruntsfield Parks blur with those of the nearby Meadows, although Bruntsfield is often cited as the safer of the two areas for walkers late at night – a huge difference from its early years, when the city council website explains that the moor that previously occupied the space was a place where outlaws and outcasts could be found, and was “not a place to be caught after dark.”

Bruntsfield Links attracts walkers and joggers alike on a beautiful day.

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Signature elements of Bruntsfield Links include its trees as well as the houses and hotels that border it, offering a clear view out over the Meadows and the rolling lawns of the park. Bruntsfield Links is not an area frequented by most of the city’s tourists, although those in the know may stay at nearby hotels and take advantage of this less crowded but much treasured part of the city.

A central, but hidden feature of Edinburgh's Queen Street Gardens is the farm pond which has its own wee island.

[image credit: stommy]

An Elite History

The trees that line Queen Street Gardens shelter the grounds from the public eye, although it’s common knowledge within the city that those who live nearby are able to gain access to this privately-owned city treasure.

The powdery snow in Queen Street Gardens makes this secluded place even more magical.

[image credit: StartAgain]

Visitors may wonder what about Queen Street Gardens allows it the status of such private enjoyment, but they might be surprised to discover that for many years, Princes Street Gardens was subject to the same rules and regulations as this other, lesser-known garden.

While Princes Street Gardens became public through a default process, when a key-holder had their key stolen and it was copied and distributed among other residents. Queen Street Garden has had no such event in its history, and the gardens remain private to this day.

However on “Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day” the Cockburn Association has previously offered the public access to Queen Street Gardens for one day and it is expected that more events are to follow in the future.

It would be easy to question why the park is not opened to the public permanently. As one walks along Queen Street, from East to West, enjoying the view of this secluded spot, one is struck by the deserted nature of the parklands and how infrequently one sees anyone taking advantage of this beautiful outdoor space. .

Queen Street Gardens are fenced in to maintain its exclusivity.

[image credit: Darcie]

In the end, Queen Street Gardens are largely a mystery to those who do not hold keys to their grounds (i.e., the greater portion of Edinburgh’s population) but remain a beautiful sight and an enticing area for exploration which many people enjoy from their outer boundaries. Queen Street Gardens are some of central Edinburgh’s most secluded spots, and will remain so in the foreseeable future.

Nearby, Holyrood Palace offers creature comforts like a cafe and toilets, while the park’s peaks of the Salisbury Craigs and Arthur’s Seat allow unique views back on down to the city – views that cannot be experienced anywhere else in Edinburgh, and which are unparalleled in both their beauty and their call for human achievement.

Nightly view over Holyrood Park with illuminated Edinburgh skyline.

[image credit: will likes tea and biscuits]

There are few such strenuously reached peaks in Edinburgh, and Arthur’s Seat is one of the most easily accessible peaks around Edinburgh, although at under 3,000 feet, it gains the distinction of being a Marilyn rather than a Munro.

Physical Fitness Is Key

Whether climbing Arthur’s Seat or making the rounds of Holyrood’s borders, a visit to Holyrood Park is a great way to expend copious physical energy and improve one’s wellness. The park stretches from the center of Edinburgh to some of its near suburbs, and is a beautiful setting for a group outing or a private journey through athletic silence.

At its far south end, Holyrood Park shows its visitors lakes full of Scottish wildlife in avian form, small hamlets which are rare destinations for those not from the area, and grand Scottish landscapes which stretch out for miles.

One of Her Majesty's swans in a regal pose with St Anthony's Chapel in the background.

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Busy Birds on the hunt for a few breadcrumbs in St. Margaret's Loch, Holyrood Park

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Holyrood Park is one of the few areas in Edinburgh which can rival some of the nature reserves in other places in the country. In the North its easy accessibility from the city centre, which is continued along bus routes that trace its outer limits, make this a place where almost anyone can go to enjoy the natural wonder and beauty of Edinburgh without leaving the center of town.

Rainbow over Leith Links

The area is popular with joggers, thanks to its level grade and nearness to a number of residential streets, with several buses that operate along its boundaries. Until recently, Queen Margaret University College operated a campus here which was dedicated primarily to technical medical professions, but the building was sold several years ago and is now undergoing development. Dog walkers also find Leith Links to be a good area for their daily exploits.

[image credit: nigeljohnwade]

Leith Links: An Undiscovered Paradise

Near to the sea and fairly undiscovered by tourists, Leith Links offers a genuine Edinburgh experience for those seeking relaxation and enjoyment in exchange for low prices and authentic interactions with Edinburgh’s local population. Unlike the more posh areas nearer to the city center, Leith Links finds among its patrons those who are simply looking for a good time.

Kids also enjoy the open space of Leith Links.

[image credit: Ewan McIntosh]

Within a fifteen minute walk of Leith’s Shore district, Leith Links offers both a brilliant morning park experience and fun exposure to greenery without traveling too far. The greenspace is well manicured and within a close distance of some of Edinburgh’s better low-price shopping, such as the shops at the Foot of Leith Walk, but in the end this park sums up what it is to be a Leither – unpretentious, rough and ready for whatever life throws its way.

Leith Links with its well maintained lawn

[image credit: Embra]

Leith Links is one of the few unsanitized places left in Edinburgh, despite the recent warning signs of gentrification set to take off in Leith over the next decade or so, and the Links should be regarded as a time capsule and treasure until such a point as it’s taken over by prams and yuppies.

Flowery metal entrance gate to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

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A Haven of Greenery

Green, green, green! The beautiful landscape of Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden.

[image credit: Richard Bloomfield]

The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is a large tract of land dedicated to preservation and research on plant species of the world.

A gorgeous flower found in one of the Royal Botanic's greenhouses in Edinburgh.

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Built 1858, the Temperate Palm House has a height of 21.95 m (72ft) to accommodate even the tallest plants.

[image credit: Peter Nijenhuis]

Offering exotic flowers and trees, and running their own expeditions to foreign countries to collect worthwhile specimens, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading Botanical Gardens. The Gardens offer a rest from the hectic pace of city life for those tourists and locals who find themselves overwhelmed by the city.

The lily pond in Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden, reflecting the roof of the glasshouses.

[image credit: Maria Keays]

Year-round, the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh offers a programme of events, speakers, tours, and more, all of which can be found at their website. In the summer, the Garden often hosts at least one Fringe production, an outdoor adaptation of Shakespearean work (for the last few years). There is a small exhibition hall in the North-East corner of the Garden, where artists’ work and children’s events often take place.

Spirit, the Chinese Lantern Festival at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh

[image credit: jvhemert]

The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh prides itself on its strong connections to the community around it, not just the wider scientific community. They have a dedicated following in both Inverleith – the neighbourhood of Edinburgh where they are located – and in the wider Edinburgh community as well.

One little-known fact about the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is that the many squirrels who live on the grounds share a less-than-savoury feature with many humans – because of visitors who drop cigarette butts on the grounds, many of these squirrels are addicted to nicotine! (This nugget of information was explained by a relative of a garden worker.)

A grey squirrel in the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

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By wandering the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, one can experience a number of floral environments, enjoy their visitors’ center and cafés, and learn about the ways in which our world is impacted by its plant life.

Looking down onto Princes Street Gardens from Edinburgh Castle, note the railway transecting the gardens

[Image credit: anotherformofrelief]

The Topography Of Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is an expansive public space which features walking paths and grass lawns in the summer, where locals gather to enjoy the long hours of Edinburgh’s summer sunlight and meet up with friends. The eastern end of the gardens is primarily field space, and the garden is broken in half by the Mound and the Scottish National Galleries (part of a huge and recent renovation which builds restaurants and gallery entrances directly into the side of the Mound).

Princes Street Gardens, locals and tourists alike soak up the long hours of summer sunshine

On the other side of the Mound, beneath Edinburgh Castle, there are several fountains and pathways. Train tracks run through the garden, emerging from underground and continuing through the gardens until they reach Waverly Station in the East: Edinburgh’s major transportation hub.

The unique feature of Princes Street Gardens is that it is set deep into the earth, with rich, fertile soil accumulated over decades (if not centuries) of being used as the sewage system for the Old City. This results in beautiful foliage and stunning flowers which bloom in abundance thanks to Scotland’s wet weather and fertile soil.

[Image credit: duncan]

Princes Street Gardens, Summer & Winter

In the summer, the western end of Princes Street Gardens features small fairs and a carousel, great rides for teens and children alike, with access to the old city. During the winter, an ice rink is set up in the east end of the garden, below a German Market offering seasonal treats and trinkets.

Princes Street Gardens is transformed to a winter wonderland every December

There are a number of parks in Edinburgh, but Princes Street Garden is the crown jewel which offers the experience of the outdoors as well as the convenience of its city center location.