Here is this Tuesdays selection of photos from Edinburgh. This gallery was shot on Friday evening around 6 o’clock, and there were some lovely streaks of early evening sunlight, and the long shadows we would expect at this late hour. The temperature was dropping rapidly as the sun sank, and people were hurrying away in out of the cold.
The photos are all in and around Princes Street Gardens, with the castle looming over us from its volcanic rock. These gardens are filled with locals and tourists alike in the summer, enjoying some food or a good book, during their lunch hour. At this time of year though, it’s too chilly to linger for long, and brisk walking is the order of the day. There is a childs playground, and it was filling the air with squeals of excitement from the children keeping warm by having fun. There were also a few dog walkers catching the last of the days light.
These gardens were created by draining the Nor Loch which used to fill this site. It added another layer of defense to the already impregnable castle, but after it had been used as a rubbish tip for the Old Town for a couple of hundred years it began to stink. The filthy waters were drained when the graceful New Town was built, and these leisure gardens were planted. The railway line in and out of Edinburgh also runs through here.
breathofgreenair 
I remember strolling along Princes’ Street … a few years ago now 🙂
Your photography has a real warmth to it and great eye for the unusual detail. I dont walk through Proces Street gardens very often but agree it is full of surprises, and light in Edinburgh is always interesting – even when grey.
Thanks. I really appreciate this coming from some one else who lives and works around Edinburgh. The light as you say is always interesting, and I ad an art teacher who swore Edinburgh had the most interesting and diverse cloud formations she had ever known!
Dont get me started on clouds, I love them! I travel across to Dunfermline each day and really wish I could capture the cloud movements particularly crossing the Forth Bridge, but alas driving and taking pictures not a good combo ! There is a real beauty in the different hues of grey.
Clouds are wonderful, and so full of drama. I love that I’ve found a fellow cloud-lover!
It’s so annoying when you’re driving and you see a great photo. Crossing the bridge each day must give you so any wonderful views of our changeable weather.
I really must visit this graceful and lovely city.
One day I’ll meet you on the green hills of Scotland, Seonaid. Beautiful photos!
Tour, landscape, photo, Internet, passed to every place in the world, causing resonance have similar hobbies and interests people. Great!
Oh, wow. I have GOT to do more than that brief drive through we once took.
Yeah, you can’t even drive along Princes Street anymore, all thanks to the as yet non existent trams 🙂
Should be fun to go on the trams, though, when they exist!
Maybe…… it’s a bit of a controversial topic, as the proposed lines have been scaled right back and won’t really take you anywhere except from the airport into the city centre. Great for visitors, not much use for locals! But we will see….if the project ever gets finished 🙂
But meanwhile traffic is diverted? That does seem silly.
Your photos are so engaging. I really enjoy your outings with your camera.
Thanks Charlie, glad to hear your enjoying the blog. Your site looks great, lots of interesting content, which I must go back and look at.
Thanks for that wee hit of “home”. Great photos as always.
Thanks for the visit Su, it must be nice to see somewhere you know so well pop up on your screen 🙂
It is. When I first saw your pics this week I wondered if there would be any of the castle. There’s a plaque on the forecourt commemorating my Leslie ancestors, which I think is quite cool.
That’s very cool, if I do some shots around there I’ll try to remember to find it and take a picture!
Thanks. I can’t remember exactly where it is, but it commemorates David Leslie, Earl of Levin raising a regiment to defend Edinburgh in 1680-something. Not a very direct ancestor, but I loved the fact that it connected me to Edinburgh even though I live so far away.
The Tuesdays Edinburgh is so wonderful! Enjoy the stories and photos!
Thanks so much Amy, I’m really happy to hear you like the Tuesday posts. Wasn’t sure if people would find them interesting, so it’s great to get good feedback.
Wonderful – always looking forwarsd to your posts! Cold up here too, but we’re promised spring warmth by nest week.
Its always lovely to hear that you enjoy the photos Ann-Christine, and fingers crossed that next weeks warmth comes here too. We’ve had plenty of sun recently, but still very cold 🙂
Nice combination of colours!
Thanks Mirada, nice to hear your thoughts 🙂
These “Edinburgh Tuesdays” are magic. I’m so glad you had the idea, and are following through. True, you have a wonderful place to photograph… but you also have the eye and curiosity to create the photos that engage the rest of us
Penny that very generous praise. I’m so gad to hear you’re enjoying Tuesdays Edinburgh, I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested, but its great motivation to get me out taking pictures and practising my photography skills. Hearing that you find my pictures engaging is very encouraging, thanks 🙂
Such a photogenic city, and you do a great job. Love all the details.
Thanks Jo, it’s easy to get swept into the big landscapes in Edinburgh, but I love all the details too. Everywhere you look there another little fascinating embellishment. They really knew how to build and design things back in the day 🙂
Oh, Seonaid, I had tears in my eyes as I enjoyed this post. I didn’t know the history of the Princess Street Garden area but your wonderful photography and writing brought me back. Thanks you for kindling my memories so well.
Pat I’m always delighted at rekindling memories. I think I remember you telling me you ate a sandwich from Marks and Spencer’s while siting in these gardens on one of your visits?
Yes I did, good memory. I have been in Edinburgh in January and I recognize the thin, pale blue skies when it is cold. Absolutely beautiful place.
Seonaid, thanks for showing us your Scotland – and nice to see the Daffs. are in full bloom. So no ,more snow then?
Not yet, it’s cold enough, but so far we’ve avoided it. There was a wild rumour we were due more on Thursday…..so we will see:-) I do love to see the daffs out, always makes me smile.
Hi Seonaid. I have really been enjoying your Scottish journey photos. They are fabulous and give a fantastic flavour of Scotland seen through your lens. Have you thought of showing these to the Scottish Tourist Board? Caro
Thanks Caro, I hadn’t thought of that, and I’ve suddenly gone all shy at the thought! It’s great to hear you like what I’m posting though. I was just thinking how much I enjoy not just putting the posts together, but getting out and taking the photos. It’s great motivation for me and all helps improve my photography skills. Win , win all round….and then I get to meet great and encouraging people like you 🙂 I do love blogging!