Spring Awakens Edinburgh

Spring in Edinburgh arrived shyly and gently in April 2025. The longer days filled the season with light, a welcome contrast to the long, dark winter. Trees awakened slowly, unfurling tender green shoots, while birds sang lively in every corner. As part of this welcoming season, I felt excitement in my very pores, rising early each morning fully charged with energy. My head brimmed with ideas and projects I had nurtured during this season of birth and creation.

Where I live in Edinburgh is a pretty spot overlooking a lake in Lochend, teeming with birdlife, not far from Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat. Several times a week, I go for a run or walk around the mountain, especially in the early mornings.

Arthur’s Seat: A Hill of Legends

Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano steeped in legends dating back to the origins of human activity here. Robert Louis Stevenson described it as “a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design”.

My first encounter with Arthur’s Seat was when I arrived in Edinburgh in 1995. That June, I was invited to celebrate the summer solstice by climbing to the top of Salisbury Crags with a small group. As we ascended under a clear blue sky at sunset, Tote, the organiser, gathered little pieces of wood and branches along the way. When we reached the edge of the Crags, facing the castle in the last moments of sunlight, Tote arranged the wood into a small bonfire. As the sun vanished, she lit the fire, and kindled a friendship that has lasted for decades. Since that first excursion, I have climbed to the summit a couple more times.

Exploring Queen’s Drive

One Saturday morning, during a walk, I decided to explore further by taking Queen’s Drive, a circular route around the hill starting and ending at Holyrood Park. The gentle slopes at both ends make the 5-kilometer loop a perfect journey. The spectacular views along the way are breathtaking, with benches inviting rest and reflection.

One of my favourite sights is at Dunsapie Loch, the highest point on the drive. The still waters reflect the rocky formations nearby like a mirror. Facing towards Fife, you see distant waters and sky blending into a sublime, ever-changing picture shaped by the weather. Along the drive, the coastline stretches south to Musselburgh and Cockenzie, while The Law in North Berwick rises in the distance. Below, Duddingston Loch glistens near Prestonfield House, with its circular stables surrounded by a golf course, and the Pentland Hills loom far away. Before descending, you are treated to a magnificent view of Edinburgh skyline: Scott Monument, The Tron Kirk, St Giles’ Cathedral, Old College, Queensferry crossing bridge (on a clear day), the Hub and the castle perched on its rock, framed by the profile of Salisbury Crags to the right. Descending along the Crags, over lush green grass, The Balmoral, Calton Hill and the Old Royal High School come into view, followed by Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament, and Holyrood Palace and Park.

The Hunters Bog Trotters

That morning, as I ascended Queen’s Drive from Duke’s Walk, I was surprised to be passed by hundreds of runners. The Hunters Bog Trotters, a local running club, meet every Saturday morning to run the 5k loop around Arthur’s Seat. Solo runners, couples, families with children, even parents pushing prams, all were there. Inspired by their energy and camaraderie, I found the courage to start my own running routine.

My first attempt was a struggle; running uphill was intense, but the effort was balanced by an easy flat run around the loop, finishing with a downhill sprint. On my way home, I stopped behind the Palace for a good stretch in a perfect spot shaded by old trees and grass, facing the back wall of the Palace. Right in front of me stood the black silhouette of the remains of Holyrood Abbey. The stark contrast of the abandoned ruin beside the Palace made me wonder what had led to such neglect. That curiosity sparked an inspiring journey of historical research and discovery.

Discovering the Stories of Holyrood Abbey and The Black Rood of Scotland.

Over the years, I have visited many historic towns, often finding ruins of old abbeys, like those in St Andrews and Jedburgh. In the Middle Ages, these abbeys were spiritual, educational, charitable, and economic hubs deeply woven into daily life. But during the Reformation, they were brutally looted and destroyed. Their remaining silhouettes tell forgotten stories of our past, evoking a melancholic sense of loss and erasure.

Holyrood Abbey

Founded in 1128 by King David I, inspired by a legendary vision of a holy cross, or “rood,” seen between a stag’s antlers during a hunt. The abbey housed the Black Rood relic and became a major religious center and royal sanctuary. It played a key role in Scottish history, hosting royal ceremonies, parliaments, and serving as a royal burial site. Over time, the abbey’s guesthouse evolved into the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Scottish monarch. Though damaged during the Reformation and later conflicts, the abbey’s ruins remain a powerful symbol of Scotland’s medieval past.

The Black Rood of Scotland

Was a sacred Christian relic: a gold and jewel-encrusted reliquary believed to contain a fragment of the True Cross. Brought to Scotland by Saint Margaret in the 11th century, it became a potent symbol of Scottish kingship and divine authority. Closely associated with the royal family, the relic was treasured as an emblem of Scotland’s spiritual and political legitimacy. Over centuries, it was seized by the English during conflicts and ultimately lost after the Reformation, its fate remaining a mystery.

Together, the Black Rood and Holyrood Abbey represent Scotland’s fusion of faith and monarchy. The relic symbolized divine protection and royal legitimacy, while the abbey served as the spiritual and political heart of medieval Scotland. Their stories highlight Scotland’s enduring cultural identity, blending legend, religion, and history into a powerful national narrative.

Inspired by these stories and the environment around me, I created my own contemporary outdoor project that reimagines the Black Rood of Scotland, blending history, imagination, and my personal journey into a living artistic narrative.