walks – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

National Puppy Day: The top Edinburgh trails with puppy pit stops

March 23rd is National Puppy Day – the perfect chance to explore your local area, get out in the fresh air, and treat your puppy to a stimulating outdoor adventure, and the Edinburgh countryside is perfect to do just that.

National Puppy Day is the perfect chance to exercise and socialise pups once they are out of vaccination jail. Exercise for puppies is crucial for introducing them to new smells, sounds and sights, while socialisation – with other puppies and humans – helps puppies develop resilience and minimises potential phobias. Puppies that aren’t adequately socialised often become anxious and develop fears, impacting their quality of life.

Eat Drink Meet, experts in all things pubs and restaurants, have delved into Edinburgh’s top dog walks and trails, which not only offer amazing views and stunning sights but also provide dog-friendly pubs for owners and pups alike to enjoy a tipple at the end of a long walk.

Eat Drink Meet’s brand-new planning website allows users to filter the pubs in their area to view only the ones that are dog friendly. Using AllTrails, they identified the best dog walking routes that start and/or end at one of those pubs in the area.

A Spokesperson at EDM comments: “National Puppy Day is the perfect chance to appreciate the companionship offered by our furry friends.

“Finding pubs that are dog-friendly can be tricky, especially those that are suitable for younger dogs, and coupled with searching in a new location this can feel like trial and error and could make an otherwise wholesome day quite stressful.

“For those new to owning a dog, finding a place where the pup can feel relaxed can be a daunting prospect.

“Our new planning website that allows users to filter the pubs in their area (or an area they’re looking to visit) based on what they’re looking for is designed to help exactly this problem.

“We want our puppy-owning customers to enjoy time with their pups, knowing they don’t have to worry about finding a spot for lunch at the end – with Eat Drink Meet, they’ve already planned their stops.

“Because, really, there’s no better way to finish a walk than resting in a relaxing pub with a hot drink or refreshing lager.”

Top puppy friendly walks in Edinburgh

1. Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park is an iconic landmark in Edinburgh. Home to the famous Arthur’s Seat, it offers stunning views of the city. Arthur’s Seat is the remains of a volcano where stone and flint tools were located, revealing human activity dating back to 5000 BC.

Within the area of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat there are several walks to try out, perfect for walking furry friends. Occasionally certain routes and paths are closed but information is regularly updated online.

Walks include:

· Arthur’s Seat: this 4.2km trail climbing 251m to the summit of Arthur’s Seat. Considered moderately difficult to complete this trail takes 1hour 41 minutes to complete.

· Holyrood Park Circular: located beside the Holyrood Palace and Scottish parliament buildings, this walk circles round the park and passes Dunsapie Loch and St.Margaret’s Loch. 5.6km in distance it takes approximately 1hour 32 minutes to complete. Located on the outer edge of the park is the Sheep Heid Inn – a dog friendly pub making a perfect end point.

· Arthur’s Seat and Saint Anthony’s Chapel: this walk avoids the steeper routes up the hill, perfect for dog walks. At 3.2km in distance, it takes 1 hour 21 minutes.

· Queen’s Drive around Holyrood Park: 5.3km in distance, it takes 1 hour 27 minutes. This walk loops round the park and can be shortened or lengthened thanks to the adjacent paths along the walk.

Dog friendly pub near to Holyrood Park: the Sheep Heid Inn

A map with green lines and dots

Description automatically generated Holyrood Park Circular 1

2. The Meadows

The Meadows are in the city centre of Edinburgh, bordered by the University of Edinburgh campus (George Square Campus). It offers plenty of open space lined with trees and an excellent view of Arthur’s Seat.

Walks include:

· The Meadows Perimeter Walk: an easy 2.3km that takes only 29 minutes to complete making a perfect way to enjoy National Dog Walking Day. Less than a 10-minute walk away from the Meadows is Salisbury Arms, a great dog friendly pub.

· Jawbone, Coronation, Boys Brigade, Borough Loch Walks: this is a slightly longer version of the standard perimeter walk, taking 37 minutes to complete.

Dog friendly pub near to Holyrood Park: Salisbury Arms

The Meadows Perimeter Walk 1

3. Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle

Princes Street Gardens consists of over 37 acres of grassland and divides the Old and New Town. The gardens were first designed in 1770 but were established in 1820. Each Christmas, part of the gardens is transformed into Winter Wonderland and features the famous Edinburgh Christmas markets, ice rink and Ferris wheel.

Recommended walks include:

· West Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill: this 5.6km walk with an elevation gain of 152m takes approximately 1 hour 32 minutes to complete. The walk ascends Calton Hill which offers panoramic views of Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Palace, Leith and the Royal Mile. A perfect pup-friendly pitstop is the Deacon Brodies Tavern, located on the Royal Mile.

· Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace: another walk is an out-and-back route, 3.2km which takes 53 minutes to complete.

· Edinburgh Walking Tour: this 7.4km walk takes 1 hour 51 minutes to complete, offering the perfect opportunity to see Edinburgh’s most famous attractions. Located on the route is The Last Drop, a perfect stopping point for a drink (and is dog friendly).

Edinburgh Walking Tour 1

4. Water of Leith

Edinburgh’s river, the Water of Leith, is approximately 24 miles in distance. Starting in Pentland Hills the river flows through the heart of Edinburgh and into Leith. The river is home to a diverse range of plants and animals.

The Walkway (the route following the river), passes through several interesting locations: Saughton Gardens, Murrayfield Stadium, Dean Village and Stockbridge. It is suitable for walking, cycling and is in some parts used for horse-riding.

Recommended walks include:

· Water of Leith Walkway: starting from Balerno, weaving through the city to the Firth of Forth at Leith, the walkway is a popular route for walking and cycling. This 19.6km walk takes 4 hours 43 minutes to complete. The trail winds through some of Edinburgh’s most famous areas – Leith, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Stockbridge and Dean Village. Located on the route, Hector’s pub is a fantastic option for a pit stop.

· Water of Leith: Currie to Balerno: for a shorter walk, this 4.7km out and back trail takes 1 hour 4 minutes to complete.

Water of Leith Walkway 1

5. Queensferry (South Queensferry)

Queensferry is a town located to the west of Edinburgh, linked to the ancient Kingdom of Fife by three bridges that cross the River Forth.

South Queensferry was ranked the second prettiest town in the UK in 2023. The town includes several popular landmarks and attractions such as Barnbougle Castle, Eagle Rock and Cramond Causeway.

Recommended walks:

· Hound Point: at 5km in distance and takes roughly 1 hour to complete. Starting at South Queensferry it follows the coast to Hounds Point and back. Forth Bridges offers fantastic views year-round. Located directly next to the Start/Finish point is The Hawes Inn, a dog friendly pub offering food all week.

· Forth Road Bridge: this 5.8km walk takes 1 hour 16 minutes to complete. The route starts in South Queensferry, advancing over the Forth Road Bridge to North Queensferry.

· Cramond Island via River Almond Walkway: this 8km out and back trail starts on land. If the tide is right, it offers the chance to walk to Cramond Island.

· Fife Coastal Path: North Queensferry to Aberdour: this 13.5km walk takes 3 hours 10 minutes to complete. The Fife Coastal Path links the Forth and Tay Estauries.

Hound Point and The Hawes Inn 1

For more information on dog-friendly pubs near your area, visit the Eat Drink Meet website: https://www.eatdrinkmeet.co.uk/#/

Forest Bound art exhibition opens today at Out of the Blue Drill Hall

We would like to invite you to the opening of Forest Bound – adaptation, resilience and uncertainty, a Community Group Exhibition of artwork and more, created as part of Forest Bound, a public engagement project.

Please see the event details below. Everything in wonderful The Out of the Blue Drill Hall !

The project

Forest Bound is a project working to engage ethnic minority groups in Edinburgh with forest landscapes by using arts approaches grounded in environmental science. The project aims to create spaces so communities underrepresented in nature can engage with forest environments, while bringing attention to their experiences and values. We organised forest walks and a workshop session. Find out more about the activities by watching the short film produced by Written in Film.

Forest Bound is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is a partnership between the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), artist Tamsin Grainger, and Written in Film.

The exhibition

This multi-media, multi-sensory and interactive exhibition includes collage, painting and drawing, film by Written in Film, sound, recipes, and an experience of the smell and touch of the Scots Pines and fungi found in the Autumn in Scotland.

The groups were interested in, and learning about, how we, as part of nature, share the ability to adapt, maintain resilience and manage uncertainty. Created by people who live in Edinburgh, including members of the Chinese, Syrian, and Polish communities, in this exhibition you will be surrounded by the infectious laughter that comes from walking together in such special places.

Evening opening event

The evening opening of the exhibition is on Thursday 16th of February 2023, 6pm – 8.30pm.

The venue is Out of the Blue Drill Hall (Main Hall) in Edinburgh (EH6 8RG). See how to get there here.

We encourage you to bring along others with you to the evening opening and share the invitation with your network.

Please note the exhibition is cost-free and will be open to all from Tuesday 14th of February 2023 until Saturday 18th of February 2023 (inclusive), so if you are unable to attend the evening opening you can visit during normal opening times these dates (10am – 5pm Tuesday-Friday, 10am – 3pm Saturday).

A Nostalgic Nation?

Brits’ favourite ways to spend time with their Grandparents

– Nostalgic conversations are the nation’s favourite way to spend time with their grandparents
– Research reveals top 10 activities include baking, gardening, and playing board games
– Psychotherapist, Andre Radmall, explains why it’s so important for grandchildren to spend time with their grandparents.

Reminiscing about the past (32%) is the nation’s favourite activity to do with their grandparents, new research has revealed.

The study was conducted by Gala Bingo, the nation’s favourite bingo site, to launch its new Paddle Pals TV advert, which celebrates the bond we have with our grandparents.

Playing card games (31%), looking through old photographs (30%) and baking (30%) were some of the other ways in which we cherish time with Grandma and Grandad.

Men and women tend to have different favourites, however, as while talking about history is the favourite grandparent pastime for men, baking takes the top spot for women. Almost two in five (38%) women say baking is their favourite thing to do with their grandparents, compared to just 21% of men. Yet men and women equally enjoy spending time planting and pruning in the garden (26%) with their elders.

Interestingly, age plays a part in which activities are most enjoyed. Cooking alongside their grandparents is a popular activity for both the 25-34 (41%) and the 35-44 (33%) age groups. For the younger generation (18-24), taking the dog for a walk with their grandparents topped the list at 31%.

Overall, the nation’s top 10 favourite activities to do with their grandparents are:

Talking about the past – 32%
Playing cards – 31%
Going through old photos – 30%
Baking – 30%
Cooking – 28%
Playing board games – 28%
Gardening – 26%
Walking – 23%
Going to the park – 23%
Doing puzzles, crosswords, word games –20%

Dog walking (15%), taking a trip to the beach (15%) and puzzling over jigsaws (19%) were among the other wholesome activities that were mentioned but didn’t quite make the top 10.

Sporty activities such as swimming (4%) and bowling (3%) were some of the least popular endeavours.

There is also variation across the UK. Playing board games with the grandparents is the preferred activity for people in Bristol and Edinburgh (both 37%) whereas taking a stroll around a park is the favourite thing to do for those in Liverpool (31%) and Sheffield (33%).

Psychotherapist and author Andre Radmall said: “The relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren is immensely important. Spending time with each other provides innumerable benefits for both.

“Grandchildren can learn from the experience of grandparents, passing on their wisdom through to adulthood which can be a rewarding and meaningful experience for grandchildren.”

Karina Adrian, head of brand marketing at Gala Bingo, said: “It’s really great to see the nations appreciation and love we share for our grandparents.

“There are so many shared experiences between a grandparent and their grandchild, with this research reflecting just how much of a positive impact the bonds with our grandparents can have on us as adults.

“We hope this research has inspired people to spend some quality time with their grandparents this week and reminisce on good times spent with them.”

Ramblers: Stay safe when walking through the countryside

As people all around the UK and Ireland bask in the heatwave, more of us are keen to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

And given the last 18 months of lockdowns, whether people have needed a break from work or have gone on staycation, many people have relied on a stroll through the countryside to escape.

It can work wonders for your health by improving fitness, relieving stress, helping sleep and building self-esteem. The benefits of being out in the countryside can be bountiful … as long as you respect, protect and enjoy it.

This year’s Health and Safety Executive Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing for Great Britain 2020/2021 report highlights how farm-related incidents don’t just happen to those working in the agricultural industry.

Tragically, all those who enjoy our beautiful countryside for leisure activities can be at risk. The sad fact is, since 1st April 2020, seven members of the public, including two children, have suffered fatal injuries on GB farms. All adult fatalities were a result of coming into contact with cattle, while one child was exposed to slurry fumes and another suffered a quad bike incident.

It is vital to remember that a field of wheat, oats or barley may look pretty but crops like these are actually someone’s livelihood. Help to prevent damage to yourself and the crops by walking around the edge of a field unless there is an existing path across it.

Every year, the agriculture industry reports fatalities for members of the public in the workplace. This is why leading agriculture charity, the Farm Safety Foundation, is urging people to take care in the countryside as part of its ninth annual Farm Safety Week campaign.

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of The Farm Safety Foundation, said: “Many people have rediscovered the joys of the countryside during this pandemic and we expect this to continue.

“It is fantastic that ramblers and dog-walkers are enjoying the mental and physical benefits of our great outdoors, but be aware that farms are not playgrounds or parks and you need to be considerate to the farm and the wildlife that live there.

“While most people who visit the countryside are keen to act responsibly, serious farm related incidents can be due to a lack of understanding of what the farmland is being used for and what your responsibilities are when visiting.

“Before heading out on a walk, remind yourself of The Countryside Code, prepared by Natural England, which makes things simple so everyone can have the best chance of enjoying our wonderful rural surroundings and coming home safe.”

COUNTRYSIDE CODE TOP TIPS FOR WALKERS

Understand that farms and fields are someone’s place of work and, often, someone’s home so:

Park carefully to keep access to gateways and driveways clear.
Leave gates and property as you find them.
Follow paths and don’t venture into field where there are crops growing.
Farmers will do their best to make sure that their animals are used to walkers and may put signs and fencing to keep you away from the animals. Make sure you follow the path and keep your dog on a lead and under effective control.
Stop, look and listen on entering a field. Look out for any animals and watch how they are behaving, particularly bulls or cows with calves.
If your dog starts to bark as you enter the field return the way you came and calm the dog and wait for the herd to settle.
Be prepared for cattle to react to your presence, especially if you have a dog with you.
If the herd are on or near the path, wait for them to move gently away.
Move quietly and predictably so that they are not alarmed by you.
Avoid getting between cows and their calves.
If the herd does react and chase you, report it to the farm or the footpath officer so that they can help keep people safe.

For more information on Farm Safety Week visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek

Summary-Countryside-Code-A5 Download

Time for Change

Time for Change Project

We have received funding from the management committee of Royston Wardieburn community centre to offer some one to one activities to local folk in North West Edinburgh, who might be struggling a bit as we ease out of lockdown.

The aim is to support people engage/re-engage with the many social and learning opportunities on offer in North Edinburgh.

As you know, it’s not going to be easy for many people to take the first step – it never is. However, the impact of lockdown is likely to have magnified people’s concerns and anxieties about getting involved in something new.

Many people may be feeling a bit anxious about what life is going to look like in the coming months and the challenges that lie ahead. Some people may struggle physically due to the loss of mobility during last year and might need a bit of support to get out and about safely again. 

One to One Activities

We’ve put together a programme of one to one activities which we hope will address these issues and we will adapt the programme to reflect people’s interests. The programme includes supported local walks, visits to places of interests such as community gardens and galleries and museums.

We are also planning to offer individuals the opportunity to work on their digital, literacy or language skills in a local café once the restrictions are lifted. For some people just meeting up with someone in a public space for a coffee and a chat will be sufficient.

Working together

We would be really grateful for your help and support with this project.

1. Can you send us information about any activities you are planning?

2. Can you could let us know if you have a space that we might be able to use for meet ups (inside and outside)?

We would also be grateful if you could help to promote the project by displaying our leaflets (which will be dropped off next week) in a public space and if you could pass on the information to anyone you know who you think might benefit from the project.

We are aiming to work with people who have been particularly badly affected by lockdown, particularly those who might have been shielding due to health conditions but also people from the BAME community and people who might be struggling with their mental health or finding it difficult to get out due to mobility issues.

If you know someone who might be interested, please let us know how best to get in touch with them.

Please get in touch if you want to know more about the Time for Change Project or if you would like to become involved in some way.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With very best wishes

Lynn, Lorrane and Neil.

Heart Research UK health tips

Spend more time outdoors

As the days get shorter, you may feel less motivated to go outdoors for regular exercise.

Spending time outdoors can help to improve both your physical and mental health.

What’s more, if you do something that gets your heart beating faster, warms you up and leaves you feeling slightly out of breath, it will benefit your heart too.

We have some tips to help you make the most of the great outdoors to help keep your mind, body and heart in sound health:

They say there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! When you go outdoors, make sure you wear suitable clothing to stay warm and dry. Feeling cold and wet is a miserable experience and it may deter you from going out regularly.
Start each day by wrapping up warm and heading out for a stroll around the garden, neighbourhood or local park. You could take a hot drink to help you to stay warm.
Getting out on your bike can be more challenging in the cold, dark winter months. Why not blow away the cobwebs as you discover local cycle routes on your bike. Don’t forget to take your bicycle lights with you so you don’t get caught out as the days get shorter.
Look out for opportunities in your daily schedule to get up and go outdoors, even if it is just for ten minutes. Try to plan activities in your diary to make you get outdoors every day.