Blackford Hill Nature Reserve

A walk with Granny. And our start point was the house she grew up in at 45 Rankin Drive. Where I spent many years playing on the back green with my cousins, going to Blackford Pond to feed the ducks, plunking on the piano, watching grandad playing the fiddle and sleeping in the big bed with nana listening to the ticking clock. The house seemed so huge then.

We headed along Rankin Drive with mum’s running commentary of all the neighbours names to the far end of The Hermitage. Then back along to the base of Blackford Hill. As we climbed to the top and came over the brow of the hill, I think we were both a little emotional. Glorious, glorious Edinburgh laid out in front of us. And the best view of Arthur’s Seat. We stood for a moment to take it in.

Then headed in a circle of the Observatory (old and new) before we were blown down the hill. We slid our way to the pond and made our way back to Rankin Drive. But not before stopping at Reid Memorial Church where my mum and dad were married over 50 years ago.

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