Friends of the Earth have organised a fun bike ride from London to Edinburgh to raise funds for the fantastic work they do. The ride will take 6 days and you can join for the whole trip or just a day. Lothian Life readers will probably prefer to opt for the last day, May 11th, which takes you from Alnwick to Edinburgh.

The ride will start in London on Sunday 6 May 2012. We’ll cycle almost 500 miles through breathtaking scenery, arriving in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, six days later.

The route will take us from the hustle and bustle of London through rolling countryside, around river estuaries and across stunning moorland. We’ll visit historic cities and picturesque market towns as we wind our way north.

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There’s something for everyone

You can ride for all six days or join for a day along the route.

We’ll take care of you

The route will be fully marshalled and a support team, including medics and mechanics, will be on hand to help.
For riders doing all six days, tents will be ready and waiting at the end of each day. Relax and unwind with a hot shower and chat to other riders over a meal of freshly prepared organic food.

The route

Our experts have designed a route that will take us along quiet roads through some of the most breathtaking scenery the UK has to offer. And we want you to enjoy it.

Your part is to pay the entry fee and raise a minimum amount of sponsorship, then get your cycling helmet on!

Around 98 per cent of all donations we receive are from individuals and trusts.

• 89p goes directly to research and campaigning.
  Getting to the root of problems and identifying the best solutions. Pooling the knowledge and resources people need to take action and get results. Being the campaigners that put your concerns to key decision-makers and arguing passionately for change on your behalf.
• 10p helps generate more funds.
  Fundraising is crucial to ensure Friends of the Earth remains a free agent. We don’t take money from any source that might try to influence our work. Almost every penny for our vital campaigns comes from people like you.
• 1p covers the costs of governance
  and meeting charity and company regulatory requirements, including: audit fees, preparation of accounts and senior managers reporting to Board meetings.

The boots are based on the original 1982 award winning Wilderness range, once voted Backpacker Magazine’s ‘Best boot in the world’, launched now to celebrate Merrell’s 30 year anniversary.

The boots have a traditional no frills appearance and are the first pair of boots which were instantly comfortable and did not give me any discomfort as I broke them in. In fact, I took the bold step of wearing them on the hill after only a couple of hours’ wear in the house and did not regret the decision.

The Vibram sole is broader than you would get on a modern boot which may, over time, result in separation from the upper after hours of tripping over boulders and stubbing toes but in the present adds to the feeling of stability and provides good grip.

They are made of good quality supple leather and provide good ankle support and padding.

I have two gripes, one of which is easily fixed. To customise the boot you receive red, blue and black laces. It’s not the colour choice which upsets me but the fact that they are the modern plastic things which don’t grip and spend more time flailing around un-done that holding the boot on your foot. This is easily fixed by a trip to Timpson’s.

The other problem is more fundamental and limits their seasonal use. They are not waterproof. It appears that in their ode to 1980’s design Merrell have reverted to 1980’s technology, ‘dubbin’, to keep your feet dry. With that in mind I can thoroughly recommend these boots for one to two season use for those who like a boot that looks and feels traditional. A Goretex lined version of these boots would turn a good boot into an excellent one.

The Way is named after the Scottish conservationist John Muir who was born in Dunbar in the 19th Century and who later went on to become the founder of the American National Park system.

My walk began in Musselburgh at the old harbour at Fisherow. Thought to be the oldest town in Scotland and in existence since Roman times, Musselburgh is famous for having what is regarded as the oldest golf course in the world (once played by Mary Queen of Scots!) From the harbour mouth you get marvellous views along the coast back towards Edinburgh and over to Fife.

From there I headed east along the promenade along the Fisherow sands.  This is a fairly uneventful, but pleasant start, along the beach and passing through the links playing fields before reaching the mouth of the river Esk.  Here it joins with the bigger salt water River Forth with oyster catchers, curlews and numerous swans and the odd fisherman attempting to catch the plaice that gather in the mouth of the rivers.

Taking a turn upriver I passed a number of bridges before crossing via the old roman bridge near to Musselburgh town centre that was used by English troops after the battle of Bannockburn. From there I came back down the other side of the river following signposts to the sea wall.  This part of the walk was established using reclaimed ash from the Cockenzie power station.  You get the most magnificent views of Edinburgh’s skyline with the extinct volcano that is Arthur’s Seat dominating the view. The ash lagoon and bird sanctuary has become a Site of Special Scientific Interest and nature conservation due to the sea birds such as waders and gulls that roost there.

At the end of the sea walk you come to the Levenhall links where you can rest and enjoy a break on the banks of the boating pond or wander through the woodland trails that line the edge of the links and the nearby Musselburgh racecourse. I continued to follow the signposts east along the roadside path before I came across the ruin at Morrison’s Haven.   The harbour was established in the 16th century and was functioning until 1930. Although in ruins now it’s still easy to see the shape and outline of the harbour.

Following the path along the shore through the gorse bushes brings you to the main road into Preston Pans.  “The Pans” as it is called locally has been in existence since around 1184 and was settled by monks from Newbattle and Holyrood.  They named the area Priestown or Prieston and the Pans came about as a result of the monks manufacturing salt using pans on the shore.  Salt panning and coal mining (thought to be the first of its kind in Britain) played an important part in the history of Preston Pans but nowadays both industries have long gone.

Preston Pans is also famous for the battle between the armies of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the English led by Sir John Cope in 1745.  Known as the Battle of Preston Pans it was the one of the first battles of the second Jacobite rising and was a victory for the army of the bonnie prince.  There is a memorial near to the site of the battle.

If you fancy a detour to see a bit of local history, visit the Industrial Heritage Museum at Preston Grange which guides you through the industrial history of the area.  As you leave the centre of ‘The Pans’ and walk along the coastal path you come to the massive power station at Cockenzie.   It is impossible not to mention this hulking great eyesore as it imposes itself along a large part of this beautiful coastline and the walk. The power station is due to close by December 2015 and the walk will take you directly past its massive chimneys and into Cockenzie, a burgh created in 1591 by James VI of Scotland.  Fishing at Cockenzie is popular and it’s common to see keen anglers at the mouth of the ancient harbour trying to catch the vast amounts of fish attracted to the warmer water churned back into the Forth by the afore mentioned power station!

I followed the sign posts directing me from the harbour and along the edge of the rocky shoreline into Port Seton, a small fishing town with a harbour built by George Seton in 1655.   Despite a decline in the fishing industry along the east coast, the harbour at Port Seton still has a small number of boats operating mainly for prawns.  For the tourist, the caravan park of Seton Sands sits just across the main road from the beach.  The evening I was there, the wide promenade was crowded with walkers and visitors all enjoying the unusually calm and serene summer evening.

Once through Port Seton, you come to Long Niddry bents.  The views back towards Edinburgh are magnificent and when the tide is out you can walk way out into the Forth estuary.  Sometimes it seems almost as though you could make it to the Fife shoreline! It is along this stretch that you will see numerous windsurfers and canoeists enjoying the winds that have battered and shaped this flat and rugged coastline for millenia.   You can visit the nature reserve at Aberlady Bay which became Britain’s first nature reserve in 1952.  The reserve covers an area of 582 hectares and is an ideal place to break the journey along the Way. Here you will come across over 550 species of higher plant such as Marigold, Meadowsweet and Yellow Iris as well as the rushes and sedges. Bird lovers throughout the seasons will see pink footed geese, skylark and lesser Whitethroats.

From Aberlady a bus will take you back to the start of your journey – and bring you back again to continue the rest another day. Although well signposted, Ordnance Survey Explorer map 351 Dunbar and North Berwick will enhance your journey.
For more information on the wildlife along the John Muir Way see this earlier article
Here’s some background about John Muir
And here’s another East Lothian coastal walk east of North Berwick

If you’d like to know when new articles appear on Lothian Life, sign up here. If you’d prefer a monthly newsletter, sign up here. Articles on Lothian Life are free to read and we hope you enjoy them. However we do pay our writers and have other expenses too, so if you feel like making a contribution to keep things going we’d be very grateful. As my mother used to say, “Mony a mickle maks a muckle”.

Bird Section Team Leader Colin Oulton said: “Penguins are inquisitive and intelligent birds, so it is important we offer them a variety of enrichment. We have a number of ways of providing enrichment, but the bubble machine always gets a good response. All three of our penguin species will chase the bubbles and try to catch them in their beaks.”

“Other ways of providing enrichment include scattering their food across the pool which encourages the penguins to catch food as they would in the wild. We also hang up CD’s which scatter patterns of light into the enclosure which they show great interest in, and during the winter we pile up snow for them to investigate.”

“During a snowfall our penguins will chase snowflakes and try to catch them, in much the same way as they do with the bubbles.”

To watch a clip of the penguins at play click here

Edinburgh Zoo is home to the largest outdoor penguin pool in Europe and the resident penguin colony includes three varieties of penguins—Kings, Rockhoppers and Gentoos.

Rockhopper penguins are classed as endangered on the IUCN Red List following a rapid decline in the wild population, meaning this species faces a high risk of extinction. Gentoo penguins are also under pressure from climate change, over fishing, marine pollution and habitat loss.

Under the façade of the Canongate side of the parliament building is the Canongate Wall. During the construction of the parliament buildings a blast wall was incorporated into the design. The 39 metres long and 6 metres high wall, at its highest point, is set with a selection of Scottish rocks, some of which have Scottish texts carved onto the face. These texts were selected by a panel of MSPs, together with a literature expert, and include suggestions submitted by the Scottish people.

In all 24 pieces were chosen for the original design, ranging from Sir Walter Scott to Alasdair Gray. In 2010, to mark the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament in 2009, two more stones were added. In total there are 28 panels of Scottish rocks; from red sandstone from Dumfriesshire, formed when Scotland was a desert, to volcanic grey granites from Aberdeenshire.

Mike Browne of Lothian and Borders GeoConservation Group, who co-ordinated the leaflet project said: “The rocks come from all over Scotland and include very ancient rocks, as well as geologically young ones. Also incorporated are ‘Brewery Stones’ recovered from the former brewery building which was demolished to make way for the new parliament. We hope the leaflet will help people understand a bit more about this important building and the geology of Scotland.”

The new leaflet about the wall, published by Lothian and Borders GeoConservation in association with Scottish Natural Heritage, explains where the rocks are from and how, and when, they were formed. It also includes the quotes inscribed on the rocks, who wrote them and where they can be found in print.

Iain Rennick, SNH’s area manager, said: “The wall is a fascinating mix of art, history and science. Scotland is the ‘home of geology’ and we have some of the oldest rocks in the world. The modern Scottish Parliament is one of the newer Scottish institutions, so it is fitting that the concrete blast wall is set with Scotland’s ancient rocks – a marriage of old and new which this new leaflet reveals.”

The overall design of the Canongate Wall was by Sora Smithson and the Scottish rocks were carved by Gillian Forbes and Martin Reilly. As well as the Scottish rocks and carved text, there is also a reminder of the design of the building. At the eastern end of the wall is a townscape, based around the sketch by parliament architect Enric Miralles, of Edinburgh’s Old Town as viewed from a room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh.

Gordon Stewart, head of visitor services at the Scottish Parliament said: “Everyone interested in literature, geology, art – or just those wanting to know what the stones are and where the quotes are from – will hopefully find the leaflet interesting. I hope it will encourage people to come and have a look at this unusual bit of the building – and also come inside and see Scottish politics in action.”

The free leaflet is available at the parliament and can also be downloaded at http://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/r_download.html. It is one of a series of leaflets published by Lothian and Borders GeoConservation covering interesting aspects of local geology.

Robin Harper, Scotland’s first ever Green Party MSP, has a secret hobby of growing oak trees from seed. Since recently joining the Board of the National Trust for Scotland, he was keen to see his seedlings find homes in Trust properties to celebrate the Trust’s eightieth anniversary and offered up to 50 young trees through the Trust’s newsletter. First to respond was Sir Tam Dalyell, on behalf of The House of The Binns.

The gift will ensure the continuation of native species of oak within the ancient landscape surrounding the property. Many of the existing trees are in their prime at 250 years old but others haven’t survived and the young trees can be planted within existing cattle guards.

Sir Tam Dalyell says, “I shalln’t be around to see them mature but, provided they’re not killed off in an early fierce winter, they will make a wonderful contribution to the environment. Oaks are host to many species of insects that provide food for birds. They are really marvellous trees.”

Robin’s garden in the centre of Edinburgh is the size of three school classrooms but he says, “It’s extraordinary what you can do with a small garden. I grow the trees in an area the size of a kitchen.”

Robin sticks to oak trees which he describes as the king of trees. “It’s wonderful when you think of all the things you can do with it from furniture to ships.

“The Edinburgh grey squirrel is my worst problem,” he says, “so I have to germinate them in trays of home made compost under my desk. From there they go into yoghurt pots and then to various plastic bottles. They’re quite happy there until they’re 5 or 6 feet high. I’ve occasionally had a little fungus which I’ve cleaned off painstakingly leaf by leaf with soap spray.”

Robin has been doing this for 16 years and during that time has provided around 700 specimens which have been planted all over Scotland, from Loch Awe to the Water of Leith and recently Scottish Water’s  Glencorse plant.

Merrell’s latest walking boots are very much a step in the right direction. And especially as Merrell continues its relationship with leading charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer encouraging people to get outside and get active.

Breast cancer affects a staggering 1 in 9 women in the UK, however, research suggests that a healthy, active lifestyle can help prevent the onset of cancer. An integrated campaign by Merrell will not only help drive awareness of the disease, but also help to raise a minimum of £20,000 for the charity.

Launching in September, Merrell offers four selected pink-styled footwear from the women’s performance range. 10% of the retail price from all pink-styled products sold in conjunction with the partnership will be donated directly to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The full Breakthrough range features Merrell’s unique QForm® comfort midsole which provides stride-sequenced cushioning, specifically for women. The popular Chameleon Arc 2 Rival GTX hiking boot features a waterproof leather upper whilst those looking for more lightweight walking footwear might consider the Siren Vent Mid GTX, which features a breathable mesh upper and boasts a Vibram® sole like the Chameleon.

The Chameleon was put through its paces on a very wet, misty Bennachie, with very little wearing in. On the uphill it provided good ankle support on a rough track and grip on slippy climbs over stone. Downhill I hadn’t judged the sock width or tightness of the fastening and ended up with blisters on the tops of my toes but was spared my usual problem of blistered heels and soles.

My feet were warm and dry for most of the day but did become damp later on – I would have expected gore-tex performance to be better than that and indeed, the website reviews suggest that this is a bit of an issue. All in all, I was very impressed by the boots (not sure about the pink but hey!) which have come a long way since I took to the hills. I particularly like the lighter weight of these technical boots and if they don’t exactly have springs, the cushioned sole makes for a very comfortable experience. Another big plus is that half sizes are available.

Merrell’s partnership with Breakthrough Breast Cancer has to be commended. The whole Breakthrough range features unique pink flash colouring and can be purchased from www.merrell.com/uk Just look for the Breakthrough logo.

Sir Kenneth said, “Peter is a wonderful example of the dedicated and talented people we have as volunteers in the Trust. He has helped us to carry out our vital conservation work at properties all over Scotland and sincere thanks are due to him for that.”

Peter has been volunteering with the Trust for 12 years. He is a member of the Lothian Conservation Volunteer Group who carry out conservation tasks ranging from pathwork repair to gardening at National Trust for Scotland’s properties throughout Lothian and all over Scotland. He has also led Thistle Camps – the Trust’s volunteering holidays – for a number of years, ensuring that holiday makers have a really enjoyable experience.

Peter’s daughter started volunteering with the Pentlands Rangers and Peter followed suit before volunteering with British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. It was only later that he discovered you could volunteer to help out with National Trust for Scotland properties – despite having been a member for 20 years.

“They used to call it the Youth Volunteers,” he recalls,  ”which put me off to begin with. Once I did get involved I discovered that most of us have our bus passes! It’s very satisfying and good fun and I’m in a position now where I have the time (Peter is a retired police officer). The people who work full time and still volunteer are the ones who make the greatest sacrifice.”

Peter’s favourite project is on Fair Isle where volunteers work in pairs with crofters.

Over 3000 people volunteer with the National Trust for Scotland each year, in a variety of roles both visible to members and behind the scenes. Their dedication and invaluable contribution is a vital part of the organisation’s conservation and preservation work, and goes a long way to helping some of Scotland’s most beautiful and historic sites live on.

Produced with the support and advice of Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Borders Council, South Lanarkshire Council and the staff of the Pentland Hills Ranger Service it can be downloaded here

Another booklet which is quite fascinating is the Pentland Place Names Guide by John Baldwin and Peter Drummond. Beginning with some history to explain the various occupations to which the area was subject it explains the meanings of places according to their Gaelic, Scots, British or Northern English roots. The Pentland at one time formed the watershed between the Gaelic speaking culture and the British, itself formed from  Anglian and Scandinavian influences. The name itself comes from the British pen meaning head and llan meaning head or top of the church or enclosure.

The names of farms and settlements hint at previous lives once we know their original meanings and this 40 page booklet can be downloaded here.

As for the Friends, each year they organise a programme of walks and talks and undertake environmental projects such as a major way marking project, restoring a wildlife pond, replacing a bird hide, planting trees, and putting up bird boxes. For further information see here

With a trip to Australia and Malaysia in mind, we tried a pair of women’s convertible trousers with an Atoll top and the men’s cargo trousers and Atoll top. All the fabrics use Nosilife a textile impregnation treatment designed to give 90% insect-repellency. The solar dry fabric also provides a minimum UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 40+, the international standard for clothing to be considered truly protective.

Travelling light is also important if you’re carrying all your kit on foot or trying to pack everything into hand baggage to save precious pounds, better spent on ice creams. Our two tops and two pairs of trousers weighed just under 1000 grammes and rolled up into a shoe size each.

The women’s trousers were very comfortable and light, drying in 20 minutes in a sunny breeze, except for the extra thicknesses where the lower trousers zip off. I never used the leg pocket as it put the weight in the wrong place  but (sadly) didn’t even realise it had a lip balm pocket until checking the specs just now. I was using the three quarters cut-offs and initially questioned the width of the lower leg, until I realised that it meant the lower leg could be removed without taking off my shoes. Having done enough hopping on one leg trying to remove overtrousers and split trousers that weren’t wide enough in the past, I was very appreciative of this feature. Apart from the hassle, a lot of the paths we encountered in Malaysia were muddy and you really wouldn’t want to put your sock foot down at all. Two niggles: I had to hitch up the upper leg for big steps – not sure if a stretchier fabric would have been better or a different cut. Also, when I wore a  shoulder bag it caused pilling where the bag rubbed.

The Atoll long sleeved top has a very comfortable fit, again insect-repellent and sun-protective, but also designed to wick moisture away from the skin, which it accomplished very well. Again it dries quickly if you’re washing it on the move but I was pleased to find that even when drenched in sweat it never became very smelly. I also liked the polo collar which could be zipped up for warmth or unzipped when you wanted to cool down. Realising that it just happens to be the colour of my orienteering club, I’ve worn it orienteering in this country both on its own and under a waterproof top and it performed very well, being surprisingly cool even with long sleeves (though I doubt I’d run in it on a really hot day). Somewhere along the line though, and I haven’t been charging through hedges forwards or backwards, it has picked up a lot of snags. For a garment classified as ‘active’ I found this surprising.

The men’s cargo trousers were also very good technically, lightweight, quick drying, sun protecting,  insect repelling and antibacterial. Clunky pockets are a pet hate though, and if  you ever used all nine pockets, you could almost get round the world without luggage. Some of these are pockets within pockets, very good for security, provided you yourself can remember where you’ve put things. The semi-elastic waistband provides comfortable adjustment, though dangerous if your pockets are full of heavy things. I exaggerate of course and this is purely a personal thing – lots of pockets are an attraction for some people. All in all these are easy to wear, smart-casual, great for travel and good value for money.

The Atoll long sleeved top is another good product, with all the technology you’d expect from Craghoppers. The off the top shoulder seam is a nice touch and it’s a good tee shirt for in between weather. The body is kind of shapeless compared with the women’s Atoll, but it keeps its shape on washing. Where I was disappointed is that its claimed “moisture-wicking cotton and polyester blend” fell short. I know we’re talking about some steep climbs in 25 degrees and 90% humidity, but there are other technical tops out there that cope better with water, both from sweat and rain. And it was just too hot. In less severe conditions though, it ticks plenty of boxes.

As for the insect repellent that I was particularly interested in, well it’s hard to say. Is it a gimmick? I am naturally sceptical about these things. But, midges are the bane of my gardening evenings and they can ruin an otherwise idyllic campsite so you’ve got to give it a try. I was chased inside the other evening (you could almost see the cloud following me) but it was only my exposed face and hands that were bitten. The question of whether I would have been bitten through my clothes had I been wearing anything else remains unanswered, sorry. A better test is John, who is a magnet for all sorts of midges, mosquitos, blackflies and other beasties.  The dying embers of a barbecue weren’t enough to protect the rest of us from the mossies, while he sat in his Nosilife top, coolly enjoying his beer after the rest of us had made a grab for our various personal favourite sprays. So yes, you’d have to say it works, and armed with a Nosilife mesh hat and socks you’d probably be nicely set up.

For the full range of kit and combinations see www.craghoppers.com

Conservation experts have agreed that the designed landscape at the Musselburgh estate is a unique world class work of art. The Trust, as one of Scotland’s leading conservation charities is charged with the care and conservation of the whole estate.

Property Manager Rhiannon Naismith said: “Our number one focus at Newhailes is conservation. Our ultimate aim is to present the landscape at Newhailes as it was in its 18^th century heyday. This will take decades, but we are taking another step with fencing in Sheep Park. We hope there will be a number of other improvements over the coming years.

“Bringing back grazing has lots of benefits for Newhailes – it will improve the appearance of this area of the estate and increase the number of wildflowers that are able to thrive. This helps the whole ecosystem, which is important as the area is a haven for wildlife on the urban fringe. But perhaps most importantly, it restores this part of the estate to its intended use.”

The Trust also confirmed that visitors and their dogs would continue to have access to Sheep Park, even when livestock are placed in the field. Rhiannon continued: “Visitors and their dogs can still access Sheep Park, through the self-closing pedestrian gates that are being put in. Dogs won’t have to be on a lead, but must be under close control. That means that they come when called or walk to heel. We realize this is a change to what many of our local visitors are used to, so we’ll be providing extra information around the site for dog walkers.

“Newhailes is a very dog-friendly site and we provide good facilities for dog and their owners – we’ve recently extended the café’s opening hours to make it more welcoming for morning dog walkers and have introduced external seating in the courtyard so dogs and owners can sit together. Dog water bowls and free bags to collect dog waste are also available.

“And this year, to make our property even more friendly for all our visitors, we’ve recruited a ‘meeter and greeter’. This person will be stationed in the car park and will be on hand to provide visitors with information about what’s going on at Newhailes, what must not be missed and where all our facilities can be found. We think this is a really exciting opportunity for someone who loves Newhailes. We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help out with this, and would encourage local dog walkers to apply – after all they know the estate really well.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at Newhailes should contact Rhiannon on 0844 493 2125.

Ian says, “I’ve designed this new and exciting course to raise the standard of event to 3 star level. There are four levels and whilst Hopetoun has provided lower level trials before, this raises the standard to new heights.”

Lord Hopetoun, who still lives in the house with his wife and four children, was clearly excited by the prospect of staging not only International Horse Trials but also of providing, as he put it, “a day out for all the family with free entry for children. There will be exhibitions, entertainment and shopping on the West Lawn in a marqueed shopping village while the cross country course will run within a few yards of the house itself.”

Stuart Buntine, an expert in the staging of International Horse Trials, will be involved throughout the planning and the event itself. He described the event as “a stunning opportunity, with the potential to attract a huge number of people,” and said, “I am very pleased to be involved.”

Ian Turnbull, managing partner at Gillespie Macandrew who are principal sponsors of the event added “This event will bring a broad cross section of standards of rider to a superb location. We believe this will rapidly become an annual “must see” event.”

The riders showing the assembled media their dressage and cross country skills were Nicola Malcolm who is 23, riding her 13 year-old grey gelding, McFly which she has ridden at both Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials and Wills Oakden aged 21 riding 10 year-old bay gelding, Button Cove. He is aiming to compete at the Hopetoun Trials.

Like most stately homes Hopetoun now has to be run as a business and Lord Hopetoun is determined within these parameters to make it a success, as well as retaining the house as a family home.

If you’d like to know when new articles appear on Lothian Life, sign up here. If you’d prefer a monthly newsletter, sign up here. Articles on Lothian Life are free to read and we hope you enjoy them. However we do pay our writers and have other expenses too, so if you feel like making a contribution to keep things going we’d be very grateful. As my mother used to say, “Mony a mickle maks a muckle”.

See more with the Edinburgh Pass - the essential sightseeing pass for visitors to Edinburgh. With 2 new tours and new exhibitions added this year, it’s better than ever.Visiting Scotland’s capital city has never been easier. You can pre-plan your trip, experience quick and hassle-free entrance to a number of top attractions, and save money at the same time. So whether you’re into history, haunted tours, culture, nature or full on fun, the Edinburgh Pass is a must have for any city break in Edinburgh.

Local people often take for granted the place where they live and you don’t have to be a visitor to enjoy the pass. With careful planning,  had a fantastic time when she tried it out – and saved a lot of money!

Edinburgh Pass Prices (from 1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012)
Adult
1 Day: £29
2 Day: £39
3 Day: £49
Child
1 Day: £18
2 Day: £24
3 Day: £30

The Halfords Family Tent Pack is a double skin tent perfect for your family of 4 to get away. The spacious tent is easy to pitch and includes four Halfords envelope sleeping bags, and two double airbeds for a comfortable nights sleep. Being a double skin tent it reduces condensation and improves insulation offering you a more comfortable holiday with your family. The two bedroom sections are large enough to sleep all of your family and still have space in the middle of the tent to sit around and play cards or talk. Halfords also offer 10% off all camping equipment between 18th and 23rd March CODE: AFFCAM04

SCOTLAND’S HOSTELS – FRIENDLY, INDIVIDUAL AND STAR RATED!

Looking for a cost effective yet enjoyable and relaxed way to holiday? Then take a look at some of the magical properties available all over Scotland at Scottish Independent Hostels.

While bunkhouses and hostels may drum up memories of shared sleeping in drafty dorms there’s a new style of accommodation that’s star rated by Visit Scotland which includes under floor heating, private rooms, en-suite facilities and hot tubs!

Here’s a selection of our favourites:-

Ayres Rock Hostel in Orkney
Rona bunkhouse, Rona Island.
Chase the Wild Goose Hostel, Fort William
The Roundhouse at Marthrwn of Mabie near Dunfries
Lochness 5 * Hostel near Inverness
Lazy Duck Hostel, Nethy Bridge

Details can be found on www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

If you’re able to plan in advance you can find some fantastic deals on comfortable, quick train journeys. And it’s worth checking even if you’re a victim of impulse and want to dash off at the last minute. Most trains accept your bicycle too.

Vitamin E SPF15 Moisture Lotion
Your daily weapon against sun-damage.
Light and non-greasy with wheat germ oil.
£10 from the Body Shop

Official figures show that men are nearly 70 per cent more likely to be involved in a car crash than women.* Yet women outnumber men nearly six-to-one among those who seek to improve their driving through confidence or refresher driver training, according to data from the AA Charitable Trust.

Only 15 per cent of the 2000-plus who have put themselves forward for the charity’s free Drive Confident refresher courses are male.  Yet 86 per cent of participants say Drive Confident has made them safer; and three-quarters say it has helped them improve aspects of their driving such as motorways, roundabouts, night driving and driving in bad weather.

The charity’s director and AA President Edmund King says: “In road safety terms, a lot of confidence is not necessarily a good thing – unless it is grounded in sound skills and a safe attitude.  Men are involved in two thirds more crashes than women.  Male dominance in statistics for speeding, in particular, suggests that confidence can often outstrip skill – with potentially fatal consequences.

“Given the safety record of men versus women, it appears the confidence shown by many male drivers may be misplaced.”

Male driver fact file:

• Men are involved in 70 per cent more reported accidents than women (133,995 versus 79,670 in 2009), according to government figures.
• Male drivers are almost one-and-a-half times more likely to have a driving conviction than female drivers.  The vast majority are for speeding, according to the AA’s portfolio of over 1 million insurance customers.
• Men are more than twice as likely to have a drink-drive conviction than women.
• There are more than twice as many road casualties amongst young men than young women.
• Men are outnumbered nearly six-to-one by women among those who seek to improve their driving through post-test confidence or refresher driver training.

The Drive Confident course was developed by the AA Charitable Trust, and is delivered through AA Driving School.  It is designed to help lapsed or rusty motorists become better, safer and more aware drivers.  Each course is tailored to the needs of the individual, and involves two hours of free in-car training with a fully-qualified instructor from AA Driving School.

Lapsed or rusty drivers can apply for free Drive Confident courses online at: www.theaa.com/drive-confident. Those without internet access can call 0800 009 4756

* Reported Road Casualties Great Britain 2009 – Department for Transport, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly Government

Simon Milne, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, said,  “Heavy snow fall and plunging temperatures means that the ground is frozen and inaccessible.  For ground-feeding birds such as dunnocks and thrushes, this prevents them accessing the invertebrates they usually rely on for food.  Equally, frozen water bodies could prevent ducks, otters, water voles, and wading birds from feeding or behaving as normal.  Small birds can find it tough to find berries in amongst snowy shrubs and larger birds and mammals will find it more difficult to hunt for prey.

“In these conditions, our wildlife could be restricted in their movements and food supplies could quickly dwindle as competition increases.  You can help our wildlife by simply clearing areas of snow so that wildlife can access the ground underneath or by providing food for them which is similar to the food they would eat in the wild.  Make sure feeders are free from snow and that they are placed at a safe height above the ground to avoid attacks from domestic animals.

 “For birds use a variety of food types such as bird-seed mixtures, fat-balls, mealworms (adored by robins), fresh coconut or even mild grated cheese which is favoured by dunnocks. The greater the variety of food the greater will be the variety of birds you attract to your garden. Who knows you might even be rewarded by a visit from the brambling – a colourful winter visitor from Siberia and Scandinavia.

“Please avoid putting out mouldy or desiccated food, cooked porridge oats, milk or fat from cooking as these can be harmful to birds. And remember to put out a shallow bowl of water to enable our birdlife to access water in frozen conditions.

“On a more positive note, it’s not all bad for Scotland’s wildlife right now.  Moles and voles and other underground creatures could be finding this weather quite cosy, as the snow will act as a layer of insulation and protects them from predators.

“Winter can also be a great time of year to see and hear wildlife. Look out for the tracks and signs in the snow and try and identify who made them, listen for Tawny owls as they start their noisy courtship, and if you get the chance, visit a coastal or inland water wildlife reserve like Loch of the Lowes near Perthshire or our Montrose Basin Visitor Centre in Angus  to see spectacular numbers of geese, ducks and swans.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a national charity made up of local representatives working on the ground to protect wildlife across the whole of Scotland.  Scottish Wildlife Trust staff located in small communities across Scotland have also been reporting their observations of how Scotland’s wildlife is coping with the big freeze.

Robert Potter, Reserves Manager North East for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said:  “In the Scottish countryside spreading from Angus and Perthshire to the Highlands, care should be taken on outlying roads not only for your own safety but for the safety of wildlife. Many animals will be driven out of the hills, and nearer to towns, in their search for food during the current weather, and therefore you are more likely to come across them on roads. Some are even attracted to the salt we put on our roads”

Speaking on behalf of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Tayside Project Officer Ken Neil said:  “Red squirrels in Perthshire and Angus will be finding it difficult to keep well fed during this tremendous snowfall. So, if you are lucky enough to have them as visitors to your garden, please help make sure that they have plenty to eat.  Peanuts (not salted or dry-roasted), hazelnuts or a branded squirrel mix will be welcome additions to put out with the bird food.”

Donna Mathieson, People and Wildlife Officer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, added:  “Kids in Scotland have had a whale of a time this week spending days off school sledging, building snowmen and having lots of fun. The animals in our garden, however, haven’t got it so easy. If you would like to help out wildlife on your ‘snow days’, why not fill up your bird feeder, or if you don’t have one, make one from an old water bottle! You can also get messy in the kitchen and make your own “bird cake” by mixing suet or lard with seeds, cheese, and dried fruit.”

Otis, Eliza and Ella, who are the first pups to parents Elena and Ray, have been keeping a low profile since they were born in July, but now seem to be making the most of the wintery weather.

Kathleen Graham, Head Keeper for Hoofstock said ‘During the first three months of their lives the pups were hidden in underground dens, their parents moved them periodically from den to den after checking no one was around so it was difficult to catch sight of them.

‘It is great to see the pups making more of an appearance now and the best time to catch them is the afternoon. They are very playful and spend a lot of time exploring the enclosure on their own – under the watchful eye of Elena and Ray of course!’

Proud parents Elena and Ray were introduced to each other in January this year and it appeared to be love at first sight for the pair, who are part of the smallest otter species in the world.

Kathleen continued, ‘We had noticed Elena and Ray spending a lot of time together shortly after they were introduced, so it was no surprise when Elena gave birth to two girls and a boy. Small-clawed otters pair for life in the wild and both parents contribute to raising the young, so we hope that Ray and Elena can go on to be a very successful breeding couple here at the Zoo.’

Known for their nimble, hand-like front paws, the small-clawed otter pups are now nearly 5 months old and are fed on a diet mostly of sprats (fish), chicks, mice and eggs. They are occasionally given treats like molluscs as enrichment to keep them busy.

The otter enclosure has plenty to keep them occupied, with a waterfall and several pools where they can spend time swimming and playing as they would in the wild.

Oriental small-clawed otters are the smallest otter species in the world and are known for their nimble, hand-like front paws. These front paws allow the otters to catch many types of prey, including crabs, snails, molluscs, small fish and insects in the water, as well as amphibians on land.

The range of the Oriental small-clawed otter in the wild is quite large, stretching from India through Southeast Asia and up to the Philippines, Taiwan and Southern China.  Oriental small-clawed otters live in fresh water streams, lakes, peat swamps, rice fields, reservoirs, canals and mangrove forests.

Otters can be very noisy and use up to 12 distinctly different calls. They have a powerful, rudder-like tail that propels them in the water and sensitive whiskers called vibrissae which allow them to feel for underwater vibrations to detect the movements of prey in muddy waters.

This is perhaps the best known of the Seven Hills of Rome Sheffield Edinburgh, also the highest at 251m, the straight line wander from the base camp posed no significant problems. None that couldn’t be solved with a brief pause to take in the view, a trick taught me by Sir Ranulph Fiennes which he had perfected on the slopes of Everest.

The view confirmed it was grey and windy, and that my outward leg, taking in the first 5 hills, would be into a virtually constant headwind. Of more concern, however, was the dawning realisation that I had no flapjacks, nor Kendal mint cake, with me. It was a chilling thought, but not more so than wondering, if it came to it and I found myself stranded with no other option, could I eat the bicycle….?

2/7 Blackford Hill
Headwind confirmed I pressed on. Some might say heroically but I couldn’t possibly comment. Fountainhall Road funneled the wind into my very soul after the freewheeled descent down the Queen’s very own Drive.

But this was nothing as to the incline that awaited, hidden behind a couple of residential switchbacks. A short sharp shock to reach the Observatory, home of the viewers of celestial matters, and a car park seemingly devoid of bike parking. The greyness was getting… greyer. And rain had begun to fall, almost obscuring the view of my first conquest.

It was here that I saw two horrific sights. The first was a golf course; the second the climb that awaited my attempts at a third peak, in the Braid Hills.

3/7 Braid Hills
Taking a secret back route through the trees to Blackford Pond turned into a long shortcut, but back on tarmac on Hermitage Drive it wasn’t long before the road pointed upwards once more. My geographical knowledge was being tested. These previously unconquered hills were, naturally, unknown to me and so heading up (and up and up and up) Braid Road, past the delightfully salubrious-looking Braid Hills Hotel complete with parked busload of tourists happily taking in the sight of such an intrepid explorer, I was searching for any possible route away from the road. And it presented itself to me a short distance past Braid Mount.

With the wind still howling, the greyness still grey, but the rain slightly abated, I considered it time to rectify the parlous state of the area in my bag set aside for snacks. Pondering my route to the fourth mountain of the morning, and the chance thereupon to take luncheon, all the blasted bicycle seemed capable of doing was pine in the direction of home.

4/7 Craiglockhart Hill (West)
Cyclocrossing from the Braid summit, and provisions procured, I set for the formidable seat of learning which clung to the slopes of an equally formidable mount. More formidable than both, however, was negotiating Glenlockhart Road. A narrow strip of land, rough going, with danger lurking round every corner. But eventually I found myself in the hallowed grounds of Napier University, and here I found a camp that surpassed the quality of even the stands by Dunsapie Loch. Safely under cover, the bicycle seemed happier with its lot, and so leaving it a bone to gnaw on I made my way upwards.

The going here was steeper than before, but a shorter climb opened out a view which had just begun to include blue sky. This did nothing to lessen the danger however as I found myself in the territory of kestrels.

Undaunted I took luncheon as the patches of blue sky found themselves once more consumed by the encompassing grey. The sustenance, however, had put a spring in my step. As did the knowledge that I was about to pass through a river-lead valley to my next obstacle, and the last of the outward leg.

5/7 Corstorphine Hill
It is always best, as an explorer, to have contingency plans to take account of the unexpected. Fluidity is the key, and so it was as I dropped down Craiglockhart Avenue and joined the mighty flow of the Water of Leith. The initial plan had been to find myself on Gorgie Road, and thereafter meander through some streets towards the next summit. Instead I stuck by the river as far as a skatepark for young ruffians whose trousers don’t fit, taking Balgreen Road through what turned out to be bandit country. Punk-haired viking invaders successfully negotiated I found myself behind schedule and set about a direct ascent of the target. Corstorphine Road turned into Kaimes Road. I declare it to be the longest and steepest in the city.

To dampen my glow of success it is at this point that the heavens opened, but taking shelter under a tree the bicycle and I contemplated the success of this ‘towering feat’!

6/7 Castle Rock
With the wind at our heels, complacency entered our heads at the worst being over, with the two smallest peaks remaining (this was no random planning at work…). Johnston Terrace, however, has a kick, and that kick is in the teeth when rain is added to the equation. But the summit was achieved with time to spare watching tourists paint on smiles so that their relatives didn’t know they’d had a miserable time getting soaked in a cold country.

Me? I was smiling, despite encroaching soakingness, although that smile was almost wiped from my face as the juddering on the cobbles leaving the castle caused my rear gear changer thingy to interact with the spokes in the rear wheel in a way unintended. First fears of a premature end to the adventure with a broken chain were allayed. A broken spoke, bent and curled round the remaining intact spokes, would see me up the last summit and onward to home.

7/7 Calton Hill
The wet cobbles provided a cautious, rather than exhilarating, freewheel down the Royal Mile, turning onto North Bridge to once more mix with the traffic, before it almost disappears, as is its wont, along Regent Road.

I knew the last kick would hurt. It was still raining, and the top of the next mountain turned me once more into the headwind that had been my tormenter for much of the day.

I arrived to an utterly deserted summit, and messages on my phone presuming I was sheltering somewhere from the rain and would likely be abandoning the endeavour. Far from it, I replied, today was a good day. A day for the soul.

If anyone wants the route, I’ve done it as a loop route starting and finishing at the car park by St Margaret’s Loch at Arthur’s Seat.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/edinburgh/973128929665130581

For those who like to do it on foot, there’s an annual race, beginning and ending on Calton Hill of 14 miles in length and with 2200′ ascent.

I was daft enough to take the boat to the water’s edge in trainers and got caught by a wave – wet feet right from the start. I debated changing but decided to test the socks wet, as they are pink and the alternative was to take them for a run through a bog, which seemed like cruelty to all things pink.

As well as wanting to see how they performed wet, I was very reluctant to take them off at all, as the extra long, brushed pile which provides the brilliant thermal properties really do give a luxuriously soft, cosy feel. And, as I’d hoped, once I was moving and warming up, so did the socks and my feet.

So, these really warm socks are great for anyone who goes out in the winter, whether it’s walking, running or building snowmen, and they are also great for elderly people whose circulation isn’t kept going by exercise.

The ones I tried are knee length and so great for wearing with wellies but they do come in a range of colours and sizes including kids’ sizes. With straight toes and no heels, they fit either foot and don’t seem to slip into uncomfortable ridges.

The RRP for a pair of Heat Holders starts at just £7.99. Please see the Sock Shop website at www.heatholders.com for range details, prices and where to purchase.