August in Edinburgh can only mean one thing for us here in Scotland’s capital: visitors and performers from all corners of the globe descend upon Edinburgh all desperate to get a piece of the summer Festivals action.
It’s busy, exciting, bustling and a great place for celebrity spotting.
However, if you want a break from Festival buzz the city’s new visitor experience Edinburgh’s 101 Objects helps to lead the way in discovering the perfect festival escapes.
From stunningly beautiful banks to serene chapels – the self-guided tour into Edinburgh’s past takes visitors to some unexpected locations offering much sought-after peace and quiet.
- Escape the entertainers on the High Street by heading to a secluded garden hidden behind the Scottish Book Trust. Here, visitors will be met by a bronze statue of Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) situated in a peaceful garden space most locals don’t even know exists. The biologist, philosopher and sociologist solved the Old Town’s problem of slum housing and sanitation by gently weeding out derelict buildings and organically adapting existing architecture in order to conserve it.
- In the same area, take a moment away from the madness to view ‘Still’ by Alison Watt. Housed within Old Saint Paul’s Church, Watt’s painting was created to convey the sadness she felt entering this memorial chapel for those lost in the World Wars. The 12-foot high image of hanging fabrics sits in front of the perfect spot for some quiet contemplation.
- Another hub for attractions and street performances every August is the dynamic Grassmarket area. After soaking up enough of the festival on this cobbled street, hop along to the Magdalen Chapel. Built in 1541, this historical landmark not only offers a quiet spot to gather your thoughts but is also home to Deacon’s Chair. Originally crafted by Thomas Heron in 1708, the chair was meticulously restored in 2000, using materials of the same age and age and source as the originals.
- For those looking to escape all things festival for an hour or two, a stroll to Stockbridge and the green banks of the Water of Leith is the perfect solution, and will bring visitors to St Bernard’s Well, an 18thcentury pillar temple set over a mineral spring. The rotunda was commissioned in 1789 by the eccentric Lord Gardenston who believed the well’s waters were a panacea, and even if that isn’t the case, the spot still exudes a sense of romance and tranquillity.
5. A short walk from Stockbridge through the quiet cobbled streets of Dean Village brings you to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and its stunning landscaped lawn, known as Landform.
A stepped, serpentine grassy mound with three crescent-shaped pools, this peaceful space was created by Charles Jencks in 2001. Not only reflecting the Baronial 1825 Modern One gallery in its rippling water, this practical design, also acts as a noise barrier to the hubbub of the city beyond.
Almost half of Edinburgh is made up of green space, and the plethora of tucked-away historical landmarks mean an abundance of serene spots and calm oases, just moments from the chaos of the Fringe.
Edinburgh’s 101 Objects brings the capital’s historic past to new life. Through the objects that helped shape the city’s history, heritage, culture and everyday life, Edinburgh’s 101 Objects tells the tales of Edinburgh through the years in the first attraction of its kind.
Objects are dotted across the city, with the majority free to visit. All objects can be geo-located on a dedicated website to create a tailored path of Edinburgh’s 101 Objects direct from a mobile phone. For more information visit www.edinburgh.org/101.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
