14th - 23rd June 2013

The first Festival of Cycling takes place in Edinburgh in June 2013

By Sidse Fjeldsted Sorensen

In a few weeks’ time, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will take place for the first time ever.

Starting on the 15^th of June an Eldorado of cycling related events will take place, in and around beautiful Edinburgh for a total of nine days. The programme is available online . It is packed with cultural, sportive and informative events that cater to everyone from the Sunday rider to the commuter to the full time professional!

Kick starting the festival, Mikael Colville- Andersen the man in behind Copenhagenize will be hosting a talk on Bicycle culture on the 15^th. Mr Andersen is followed by Mark Beaumont, the Scotsman who cycled the world and now works as a full time broadcaster and adventurer who will be speaking on the 19^th. Last but not least Juliana Buhring, who currently holds the women’s world record of cycling the world, will be giving a talk on her journey and her ups and downs. These talks are ticketed and can be booked online .

During the festival there will be plenty of free events including the family picnic ride on the 23rd and the Heels on Wheels ladies day in The Meadows Saturday the 22nd. If you fancy a poetic night out, then pop in for the world’s first Bike Poetry Slam in the Forest Café on the 17th.

As it is a cycling festival, there are heaps of rides and even a few races. Scotland is filled with hidden treasures for mountain bikers and there will be plenty of opportunity to try out some off road single tracks and get some good advice from experienced riders on the 15th departing from St. Charlotte square at 2pm with a £2 joining fee.

If you enjoy climbing and legs filled with lactate, then Arthur’s Seat hill climb on the 23rd is something you wouldn’t want to miss.

All are welcome at Edinburgh Festival of Cycling to join and celebrate the joys of spinning wheels. Whether you are just learning to ride a bike, are a well experienced commuter, or compete in races the festival welcomes you with open arms.

Now get on your bikes and let it roll…..

Information

You can find out more about the Festival of Cycling on their website. You can be keep up to date with the latest news via their Facebook page and via their twitter stream @edfoc

Mikael Colville-Andersen

A walk up and around Arthur’s Seat is one of the best free things you can do in Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat as viewed from Blackford Hill

We love Arthur’s Seat and have previously written about  a walk around the extinct volcano and also when it has been covered in snow.

Although we regularly walk the circuit around Arthur’s Seat, we decided that in the recent sunshine, we’d take a stroll to the summit to soak in the 360 degree views of Edinburgh and beyond.

Dunsapie Loch and Arthur's Seat

There are various routes you can choose to walk up to the summit, some of which are suggested here.  The easiest way to reach the top is from this point up one of the two recognised paths on the grass, which leads to a stone path and steps closer to the top. It’s really important that you use this path as the area can be slippy, especially after rain, but also to stop further erosion of this natural beauty spot.

Looking down on St Anthony's Chapel

Fabulous views from the top of Arthur's Seat

It takes about 15 minutes from Dunsapie Loch to reach the summit, longer if you stop to take photos on the way up.  On a clear sunny day, you can see across to Fife and right down the east coast and pick out North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock.

At the summit

Looking north to the football ground of Hibernian FC

It can be very windy up at the summit so be sure to take care over the rocky terrain. Despite the cold wind, people were sitting having picnics and drinking in the views of the city below.

Classic Edinburgh Castle shot from the summit

Looking over to the rocky summit

Descending to Dunsapie Loch

Information

Further information on Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat is available on the Historic Scotland website.

Downloadable map and guide (PDF, opens in new window).

Suitable for disabled? There is a road all the way around Arthur’s Seat, but not to the summit.  There’s a separate path for walkers and joggers, so suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.  There are car parks at the top beside the Loch and lay bys that you can park in and enjoy the view.

Holyrood Park after sunset

Great wildlife in Holyrood Park

Stickers appearing all over town to demonstrate they're dog friendly

‘Dugs n Pubs’ website is taking Edinburgh dog lovers by storm

‘Dugs n Pubs’ is a dog friendly site that has been taking Edinburgh (and beyond) by storm in recent months. We’ve been following their tweets and posts on Facebook and noticing their famous ‘Dugs Welcome’ stickers all over town.

Although the website started in 2009, it’s through recent use of social media that thousands of more people have got involved by reporting on their experiences with their pooches in Edinburgh pubs, cafes and shops.

For those that maybe don’t know what a ‘dug’ is, it’s a Scottish term for a dog. Despite the website name, there are all types of venues listed on their website and places to walk your dog and it’s completely free to use.

Run by Edinburgh couple, Kevin and Rhian, the website and stickers for the pubs were initially funded by them. The growth of the website has been so fast, that they now help fund the stickers for the dug-friendly venues, by selling car stickers and badges.

We think selling merchandise to enable the concept to run is a great idea. Their online shop is so popular that they sold out of their first batch of stickers within days, but the second batch is on the way!

Rhian who started Dugs n Pubs told us about why she started the website.  ”When we first got our wee dug Bailie, it was love at first sight and we wanted to take him everywhere with us in Edinburgh.

We thought this would be simple but it turned out to be a bit of a faff to figure out where we could take him. We chatted to people on walks and it soon became clear that we needed to start a service sharing information on all the fantastic dog friendly places in and around Edinburgh.

Bailie, the adorable Lhasa Apso who is the reason the website was founded

From there, the idea has grown and grown, and we’re over the moon with the popularity of the website, Facebook page, twitter and the stickers. We came up with the idea of the “Dugs Welcome” sticker as we thought that it would cut out the awkwardness of having to go into the place and ask if its ok to bring your dog in.”

The Dugs n Pubs website  and its social media channels has also been an integral part of helping find various dogs that have been lost in Edinburgh and reuniting them with their owners.

Although we’re not dog owners ourselves, but can’t help but ooh and ahh as we see pictures of various Edinburgh dogs on their Facebook page and in their twitter stream. We especially love this one of Bailie enjoying a walk up Arthur’s Seat.

Bailie enjoying one of his walks (pic courtesy of Dugs n Pubs)

Dugs n Pubs is a great asset to the Edinburgh (and Scottish) dog community and we’ll continue to support them and spread the word of their great work.

We think the service offered by Dugs n Pubs is invaluable to dog owners in Edinburgh and for those coming to visit our fabulous city with their four legged friends.

Further information

There is a comprehensive list of dug-friendly venues on their website and you can contact them to add ones you know of.

You can like Dugs n Pubs on Facebook and follow them on twitter @DugsnPubs.

All photos and images copyright Dugs n Pubs.

Champions of Tennis event comes to Edinburgh

Champions of Tennis

The Champions of Tennis events is part of the ATP Champions Tour, and is coming to Edinburgh in June 2013.

20th – 23rd June 2013 sees the event take places in Stockbridge at the Edinburgh Academicals ground, the first time this event has been held in Scotland. This in an incredibly exciting event for Edinburgh to host and will be sponsered by Brodies. You can read the full press release here.

You can register for updates on their website.

Tickets are on sale now via the Champs of Tennis website.

The stadium will hold a limited number of public seats, 2000 per session, and tickets will be at a premium.

Each session (apart from Finals day when there is only one session) will have a ‘Champions’ ‘Legends’ and Doubles match.

Players

Players include John McEnroe, Tim Henman & Goran Ivanisevic. Others will be named in due course and the quota to be a player is that they “must have been ranked number one in the world, played in a Grand Slam singles final or played singles for the victorious team in a Davis Cup Final.”

Further information

Keep an eye on the Champions of Tennis website for up to date information. You can also like them on Facebook and follow them on twitter @ChampsofTennis.

You can read more about the ATP Champions Tour here.

Picture courtesy of Champions of Tennis featuring previous players

Arthur's Seat

Edinburgh is brilliant for lovers of the outdoors. You don’t even have to leave the city to find some beautiful green spaces to blow the cobwebs away. One of the most striking things about the city is not just the enormous number of parks, but the sheer quantity of people enjoying using them.

Here’s 13 suggestions of green places to go for a walk in 2013.

1. Arthur’s Seat It’s hard to miss this extinct volcano in the middle of Edinburgh. There are various routes you can choose to walk up to the summit, some of which are suggested here. We have previously written about a walk up Arthur’s Seat to the summit and a walk around it when it was covered in snow.

2. The Water of Leith The Water of Leith Walkway is a beautiful 12 3/4 mile walk through the heart of Edinburgh. You can look at our photos of walks from Roseburn to Dean Village and Balerno to Slateford.

3. Cramond Island Cramond Island is one of our favourite places to walk in Edinburgh. You need to check the tide times before you head out there to ensure you don’t get cut off by the tide. Read our previous article on walking to Cramond Island.

Time your visit with sunset and tide times

4. The Edinburgh Royal Botanical Gardens Another of our favourite places to visit in Edinburgh. Beautiful in all seasons, the Botanical Gardens are suitable for everyone and children love being able to feed the squirrels. We loved it when the Botanics were covered in snow.

5. Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells These dells are beautiful woodlands on Water of Leith. Walk to the top of Craiglockhart Hill for amazing views of Edinburgh city and out to the Forth.

6. Dr Neil’s Garden Dr Neil’s Garden is one of Edinburgh’s most secret gardens, but is one of beauty and a place for inspiration,  meditation and contemplation.  A wonderful collection of  plants and flowers fills this peaceful space nestled between Duddingston Loch and Arthur’s Seat and is suitable for everyone to enjoy. You can also read our feature on this garden.

Dr Neil's Garden in Duddingston

7. Blackford Hill and Pond Blackford Hill is wild and wind-blown. It’s a large slice of countryside within the city. The views from here are outstanding. Popular with dog walkers.

8. Calton Hill is a great place for a walk in Edinburgh. A walk up to the top offers fantastic 360 degree views of Edinburgh. You can also go up the Nelson Monument (small admission charge). If we ever have visitors to Edinburgh, this is the first place we take them to show off the city.

Classic Edinburgh view from Calton Hill

9. Kyoto Friendship Garden and Lauriston Castle Grounds This hidden Japanese garden is full of blossoming trees in Spring, but is worth a visit at any time of year. You can admire the bowling lawns in front of Lauriston Castle and views out to the Forth. Have a look at our feature on the Kyoto Friendship Garden.

10. A walk in the Pentlands from Swanston Village One of our favourite walks in the Pentlands. Starting at the picturesque Swanston Village, you can choose your route depending on your fitness. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. Read our article on this walk.

A walk in the Pentlands from Swanston Village

11.  Portobello Beach and Community Garden Take a stroll along a section of Edinburgh’s sea side. Great at any time of time year but can be bitterly cold in the winter with wind, so wrap up warm. You can see beautiful sunsets here in the summer and if not too cold, suitable for a swim in the water!

12. Figgate Park This is a great place for wildlife spotting in the pond (with board walk) and admire the beautiful pictorial garden. You can walk your dog here, there’s picnic tables for good weather and it connects to Edinburgh’s cycle network. Read our article on Figgate Park.

Figgate Park

13. The Union Canal It’s 32 miles along the Union Canal from Edinburgh Quay. It connects with the Water of Leith and is a popular way to get to and from the town centre. Lots of swans and other wildlife to spot and canoeists at Harrison Park.

Union Canal

A heron on the Water of Leith

By Alan Donald

You may be looking for new ways to freshen up your fitness levels, whether you are new to running or a seasoned road runner. I’m a running coach with a triathlon coaching qualification and trail running or hill running is a fantastic way to improve your fitness levels & provide a new aspect to running.

People living in Edinburgh are incredibly lucky, we have the Pentlands right on the southern edge of town, within easy access and also a fantastic number of trails within easy reach of the city centre. Edinburgh was recently given the status of second best city for running in the UK by Runners’ World and there cannot be many other places which have so many great off road opportunities within the city itself. Just think of Arthur’s Seat, Corstorphine Hill, the Union Canal, Colinton Dell to name a few.

There are many advantages to off road running beyond the chance to see some great views as you exercise. You get the chance to freshen up your routes and you will find that a 5k off road probably seems to take less time than your usual route on the road because you have to focus much more on what you are doing.

Wonderful views from Craiglockhart Hill

You will also find it more tiring whether you are running on grass or on trails alongside a river or in the hills. If you are used to running on roads, then you will find that the softer ground absorbs your stride more. This is much better for your joints, but it does mean that you have to put a little more effort into your running. Similarly, if you are on an uneven trail, you might find that your weight is thrown off sideways just as you are looking to drive forward. Although this is unsettling at first, it gives you a great workout in that your muscles are being used in slightly different ways.

A good pair of off road shoes is an absolute necessity too enjoy off road running. They are essential for the extra grip that they provide on muddy trails and you would be surprised what a difference these can make. There is nothing more dispiriting that trying to run uphill in a pair of road shoes, only to find your feet slipping backwards. Good road shoes are probably even more important for descending, preventing you from landing flat on your back as you try to come downhill.

You can get a pair of off road shoes from one of Edinburgh’s running shops, such as Run4it or Run and Become. It is worth taking professional advice because you get different shoes for different types of terrain. These shoes also tend to be tougher, with less sideways foot movement allowed.

If you are in the hills, the weather can change quite quickly, so it is worth having a jacket which can easily be stowed away.
Although it is much better to run during the day, some of you may not have that luxury, so you can still enjoy offroading with a head torch. If you become a bit more adventurous and head into the hills, it is probably worth getting a bumbag or back pack which will hold a map, whistle, phone, nutrition and drink.

There is no question that offroading is becoming more popular, with a wider choice of races for people, from the hugely expensive but slightly artificial Tough Mudder, to local races put on by running clubs that are great value for money, such as the Braid Hills cross country race.

With the arrival of crisp winter days in Edinburgh, there really is no better time to get out and try off road running!

Alan Donald

Alan is a fitness coach in Edinburgh and provides a variety of services to help you get fit and stay in shape. More details on his website.

You can read more on Alan’s blog and like his page on Facebook.

Healthy Living Yearbook – Get Fit and Enjoy It, In Every Season
Author: Tracy Griffen

By Edinburgh's Tracy Griffen

The Healthy Living Yearbook is a fitness almanac packed full of tips for well-being, nutrition, exercise motivation and ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Written by Edinburgh-based personal trainer Tracy Griffen, she notes that there’s a distinct seasonal cycle in Scotland and details what foods are in season, recipes which use these foods and exercise ideas to match our particular weather patterns.  On top of this are hints on how to avoid the temptation of naughty foods and naughty habits (particularly helpful reading when the nights are getting darker and colder and a girl’s thoughts turn to comfort eating).

It is laid out month by month so you can dip into it for some monthly motivation or read through the entire book looking for a full-on fitness overhaul.  A set of monthly articles are there to inspire with healthy ideas to increase energy levels, maximise workouts, hone exercise techniques and tips to keep your diet on track.   The recipes featured range from simple healthy meal suggestions such as butternut squash soup and baked apples to the more exotic and interesting, like tempeh with mushrooms and homemade sushi.  There’s also an exercise of the month, suitable for all weathers, to encourage you to try something different.

It’s a perfect book for those who aren’t looking for a prescriptive guide to health and fitness but would rather make a lifestyle change for the better and keep up the good work throughout the year.

A recommended read.

Review by Katey Lee who blogs at Edinburgh Eats

Further information

You can look at Tracy’s Personal Training website, like her on Facebook and follow her on twitter @TracyGriffen.

You can purchase the book via her website and various places around town (listed in sales link).

Dean Cemetery

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to take a stroll around one of our favourite graveyards in Edinburgh, Dean Cemetery.

The trees were in their autumn finery; and there was hardly another (living) soul around. It was very atmospheric – and the cemetery is a beautiful, historic and peaceful place to visit at any time of year.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the rest of our photos.

Cramond is a beautiful area of Edinburgh for a stroll at any time. With a bit of careful planning, you can walk out to Cramond Island when the tide is low. You can check timings here but please check the board at the start of the causeway to ensure you have enough time to walk out and return safely.

Last night it was a balmy 18 degrees as we set out at 7.45pm to catch the low tide and the sunset at 8.36pm.

Cramond Island with the tide heading out

The path at low tide can still be a bit slippy

Arriving at the island

Looking back to Cramond

Wildflowers

Last of the sun on the building (keep out of it)

Great view of the bridges as the sun sets

Sunset from Cramond Island

Walking back to Cramond and catching reflections in the water

Looking east

Beautiful colours in the sky

Almost back at Cramond

Looking back at Cramond Island

Cramond Harbour

Sky glowing a long time after sunset

40 minutes after sunset

Celebrate Midsummer

Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens open until 10.30pm on Thursday 21st June 2012 for Midsummer celebrations

We absolutely love the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and visit on a weekly basis. In celebration of the longest day of the year, the gardens will remain open until 10.30pm on Thursday 21st June 2012.

Make sure you make the most of this opportunity to see the gardens in a different light.

The John Hope Gateway will be closed, so entrance will be via the East Gate only and there will be a guided walk with the RSPB and other activities. The entry to the Glasshouses will also be free.

There are further details to come but mark the date in your diary now. We will update this article as soon as we get more information.

Unfortunately the weather in the evening of last year’s midsummer event was rather wet, let’s hope it will be beautifully sunny this year!

You can read more about the gardens on their website, like them on Facebook and follow them on twitter @TheBotanics.

Glasshouses

We love the Pentlands Hills Regional park and after the snow yesterday, we headed up a very cold Swanston track to get some wonderful views of Edinburgh. You can download a map of the Pentlands and plan your route according to your fitness.

We parked at the free car park beside the Swanston Golf Club House (open to the public) and followed the track through the picturesque Swanston village.

Approaching Swanston Gold Club House and the neighbouring car park

Choose your route

Walk through the cottages in Swanston Village

Tracks are well marked

It doesn't take long until you look back and get great views of Edinburgh

Looking over to Caerketton Hill

Looking over 'T wood' and Down to East Lothian

Enjoy the view!

Make sure you’re suitably dressed and have enough water and food etc. If you’re doing a long walk, please tell someone where you plan to go and what time you expect to be back.

Adhere to signs in the park with regards to dogs on leads and don’t go into the marked areas if the red MOD flags are up.

There can sometimes be highland cattle in this area, please do not approach.

If you head down to the Royal Botanical Gardens just now, you might just notice that one of their trees has turned pink. This is to acknowledge the thousands of walkers and volunteers that have been involved with previous Edinburgh Moonwalks and this year’s one – Midnight at the Oasis on the 9th June 2012.

The tree was covered pink after the material was donated by Mandors Fabric Store and is also to  acknowledge the charity’s latest grant towards a new Mammomgraphy Unit at the Western General Hospital.

We think it’s an excellent tribute to the wonderful charity and to everyone that is involved with the Moonwalks.

You can still enter the 2012 Edinburgh Moonwalk or volunteer to help out on the night.

Near the John Hope Gateway

Vibrant pink

The trunk and main branches covered

A great addition to the gardens

Will be great to see once the leaves grow

One of the best things to do for free in Edinburgh is to take a stroll up Calton Hill and soak in 360 degree views. This evening we took a stroll up for some exercise, but were rewarded with a lovely sunset which we captured in pictures. As ever, the photos are unedited and the following were all taken with a Panasonic Lumix compact camera. Enjoy!

The classic Edinburgh shot from Calton Hill

Tourists galore on Calton Hill

The sun setting

The Edinburgh skyline at sunset

Looking over to Fife

View west

Heading back down to Waterloo Place

Princes Street from Waterloo Place

With the glorious weather in Edinburgh at the moment, we couldn’t resist taking a walk up Blackford Hill to admire Edinburgh from a different angle.

The view of Arthur's Seat

Edinburgh Castle

Looking towards Salisbury Crags

Looking down to East Lothian through the haze. Berwick Law and Bass Rock visible.

Gorgeous Edinburgh

Entrance of Castle

A trip to Direlton Castle in East Lothian

We headed down to East Lothian recently to pay a visit to Dirleton Castle in the beautiful village of Dirleton.  The castle is set in wonderful gardens which are beautiful to enjoy and are worth a visit in their own right.

We used our Historic Scotland membership to gain entry but the normal charges are Adult £5, Child £3, Concession £4.

You can pack a picnic, take a book or if visiting with little ones, just spend time exploring the castle and having fun.

The staff are very friendly and showed us an aerial map of the grounds and castle and the best route we should take.  One part of the castle was closed due to restoration work, but this did not spoil our visit.

The gardens

After walking through the main entrance into the castle, we explored all the nooks and crannies of the remains.  Staircases led to various look outs and the areas that are are damaged, are safely fenced off to visitors.  This is another good castle for children to explore and climb all over without getting into trouble.

We explored the castle vaults and read all the information boards to learn about the castle’s past before we exited through the west gardens which had an immaculate bowling green and lawn.

Explore the castle vaults

The castle is worth a visit if in the area as well as  Tantallon Castle in nearby North Berwick.  With views out to the sea and the Bass Rock, it is a must see when in East Lothian.

Whilst in  the Direlton area, you can stop off for afternoon tea and cake in Gullane and take a walk along the beach.

Suitable for disabled? The gardens are, but the access to the castle is via a set of steps.

Head down towards Mountcastle and beside the High School lies Figgate Park. The last time we visited this gorgeous green space, it was so foggy, Arthur’s Seat couldn’t be seen, but today, the sun was shining and we got views galore.

There’s some more information on Figgate Park on the council website but we found it a great place to wander around and soak in the views, look at the wildlife in the pond (with board walk) and admire the beautiful pictorial garden. You can walk your dog here, there’s picnic tables for good weather and it connects to Edinburgh’s cycle network.

Well worth a visit, but make sure to take your camera and binoculars for all the wildlife.

Figgate Park with Arthur's Seat in the background

Pictorial Garden

Baby moorhens

The excellent boardwalk

A heron on the central island

This pair seemed quite comfortable on the pavement outside Charlotte Square Gardens yesterday!

We hope they enjoyed their visit and ended up somewhere safe and more suitable for ducks!

Panoramic views over North Berwick

We do love to be beside the seaside and a trip to North Berwick beckoned over the long Easter weekend.  It’s a beautiful town with several attractions and beaches worth visiting, but the purpose of this visit, was to climb to the top of Berwick Law which stands at a modest height of 187m/615ft

Blessed with good weather, we parked at ‘The Law’ car park (which is well sign posted around town) and just off the B1347. This walk can also be done from the town centre, but of course, adds to the total length. Walking Scotland gives a detailed description of this excellent 1hr long walk.

Start of climb to summit

We stuck to the main path as other routes up can be very steep and sometimes slippy.  After 10 minutes of walking this circular route to the top, we were afforded wonderful views west to Edinburgh where we could make out the shape of Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle.  There are plenty of rest stops on the way up, but after 20 minutes, we had reached the summit and started to soak in the panoramic views.

Berwick Law is a volcanic lump and the stone building at the summit was erected in 1803 as a signal station during the Napoleonic Wars.

There has been a whale’s jaw bone at the top of Berwick Law since 1709 but years of buffeting by the wind saw the jawbone become unsafe and it was removed in 2005.  A replica was winched into place by helicopter 3 years later in 2008 after being funded by ‘friends of North Berwick’.

Bass Rock can clearly be seen from the summit, as can the other Firth of Forth islands.  Look east and Tantallon Castle can be spotted and rolling farmland to the south.

We sat at the top for a good 20 minutes with our snacks and water before taking the same route back down.  Total walking time was 40 minutes (medium-fast pace) but the whole climb took longer due to photo stops.

Bass Rock and North Berwick below

The replica jawbone

Remains of St Baldred's Chapel

Boat heading out to Craigleith and North Berwick harbour area

Wonderful views of North Berwick and its beaches

Entrance to Malleny Garden

Worth the trip to Balerno for this stunning garden

Malleny Garden is a National Trust for Scotland property situated in Balerno. This beautiful 400 year old garden is free to enter for those that are members of the NTS, but non-members can pay the admission price of £3.50 into the donation box.  Concession and family prices also apply.

One of the main features of the garden is the four, 400 year old yew trees in the middle. Take a seat on one of the many benches and spend a couple of hours of quiet contemplation amidst beautiful surroundings.

The roses are stunning in the summer and the greenhouse is a wonderful array of colours.

This garden is perfect to visit after a walk along the neighbouring Water of Leith.

Suitable for disabled? Partially.  You can drop off near the house (private) and enter the gardens there to avoid the steps.  The paths are made up of small stones, but are manageable.

Take a seat and enjoy the silence

Spring blossom

Old yew trees

We took a stroll in the lovely weather this afternoon to the top of Arthur’s Seat.  It’s a walk we do often, but today we noticed that there was a collection of stone circles on the ground below us. 

Perhaps they started by one person creating their name in stones for a photo and they’ve organically grown – or perhaps it was done overnight by several mysterious stone-designers?

Whatever the reason, it’s a lot of fun and makes walking to the very top an even more worthwhile experience.

A cow design

An overview of all the stones

A detailed bagpiper and India

A smiling face

A boat design

Love sign

Ground level view of piper, complete with stone kilt!

Ground level view of cow

Antipodean flag