Edinburgh. Quartermile. The Meadows again. McEwan Hall and Bristo Square. U of E.

                                                   ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.

Having mentioned in the previous post of a trip 10 years ago in early March cycling across The Meadows in Edinburgh and the spectacular and unexpected display of crocus there I thought you might like to see the photos from that time. In part because late February, early March is nearly here again, when the crocus come out to play on the grass. I can't promise they will be as good as this after 10 years away but they are starting to appear in my own garden again so a few more weeks should see them fully out in bloom if they are still there. Quartermile- the glass towers in the distance in this photo, above, newly constructed upmarket apartments back then, caught my eye. Everywhere in Edinburgh old buildings get renovated into luxury apartments. What makes this set unusual is its complex insertion into the far older stone behemoth of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh buildings. Now the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Take a peak here at the view from these luxury penthouse apartments.

https://www.qmile.com/index.php?option=com_realdev&view=category&catid=82&Itemid=603

I thought it was just over five years ago, pre-pandemic,  since this multi-coloured trip so time seems to be highly elastic in blog land, in my memory at least. Another difference is that I would no longer take my car and bike through to Edinburgh as the places I used to park at no longer exist... all have double yellow lines now so I go through by bus. Much easier. Also the volume of traffic between cities is worse.

James Gilliespie's High School for Girls. Built 1803. Featured in the last post on The Meadows but I've had time now to look it up. As usual in Edinburgh it is now upmarket apartments apparently. Maybe Glasgow lacks the money, clientele, or ambition of Edinburgh but so many of Glasgow and Paisley's grand buildings, even if cat A or B listed, are left to crumble and decay into ruin whereas Edinburgh's are usually saved. One big difference between the cities I've noticed.  

I also thought I didn't really do The Meadows full justice in the last post to give readers/ viewers a better impression of this large grassy rectangular area. In Edinburgh you can easily take too many photos and get overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. most high quality views or interesting in some other way. Arthur's Seat from The Meadows.

Looking in the opposite direction back towards Bruntsfield Links and The Barclay Viewforth Church. ( the highest spire.)

This is a solid looking church from any angle. Edinburgh has loads of grand churches.

The Golf Tavern. Where you presumably hire the equipment to play on the nearby pitch and putt course. Bruntsfield links. This pub found beside the large church in the above photo.

Jubilee Hall. Showing the blend between the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh buildings and the modern glass and steel of Quartermile. Now part of Edinburgh Futures Institute belonging to the University of Edinburgh which covers a large stone chunk of Central Edinburgh around The Meadows District. Street after street.

George Square Gardens. Autumn. Nice colours.

Which brought me out here at Bristo Square and Potterrow. One a modern name the other ancient, predating JK Rowling books by centuries. University of Edinburgh's main central open plaza. The building above is getting refurbished at present.

A plaza dominated by McEwan Hall which was purpose built in 1897 for student graduation days as well as other big prestigious events. Restored and refurbished in 2015/2017 at a cost of £35 million. Sorting hats take a bow.

To my admittedly uniformed eyes Glasgow definitely feels like a poor relation nowadays. Especially wandering down a rather shabby Sauchiehall Street, or the graffiti strewn Clydeside Waterfront at Clyde Street or Bridge Street between Carlton Place and St Andrew's Cross..... the derelict zone last time I visited it.

You can see the splendour inside this great hall here. History and interior photo gallery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McEwan_Hall

Anyway, the Quartermile district was what I was here to see as well. Probably 10 years since the last visit so this might well be my final trip to this particular location in October 2025.

Still a quiet place. Not much sign of the 49,000 Edinburgh students based here ( a student population slightly smaller than the size of Kilmarnock.or Torquay. Both UK towns.) Yet only a street away in Bistro Square it's full of students.

I don't remember this building the last time I was here. Wharton Square. But maybe it was. It has a sheltered interior courtyard in brighter colours tucked away behind this wall. For residents only.

Certainly different for its mix of building styles.

Always seems a fairly empty area this although in fairness I've never visited it in summer or in sunshine. And only twice. Might get lively at night. No idea.

Another street away but still the Futures Institute buildings continue marching onwards across Edinburgh....

The spire on the same period building. Voted number 1 by happy starlings.

Late February crocus strip cycling through The Meadows. A sight I will probably never see again in this location. So worth including a photo here.