Many students worry about the weather when they come up to Edinburgh – but fear not, it’s still possible to find natural beauty amongst the occasional spot of rain… here, Ita shares the secret to getting the best out of spring in the capital city.
Finally, the days are getting longer, sunnier, and warmer (most of the time, at least…). Yes, spring is upon us. I really like this season – my second favourite after autumn – and was scared when starting my studies that it would be difficult to experience it in Edinburgh. After all, Scotland is not really famous for its beautiful weather… Well, fortunately my fears proved to be groundless – spring in Edinburgh is simply amazing.
The Meadows
Yes, you have probably already heard about the Meadows. They are one of the biggest and most beloved green spaces in the city, and they’re just off the Central Campus – you can see them from most floors of the Main Library. They’re one of my favourite spots to go spring-hunting, especially during the week when I have a break between classes. The Meadows are constantly changing during spring, beginning with crocuses, snowdrops, and daffodils, and ending with cherry blossom. They’re simply wonderful and easily accessible, so I would really recommend visiting them. Besides, what better way to celebrate spring than a walk around the blooming Meadows with a cup of freshly made coffee or hot chocolate?
The Royal Botanics and the Japanese Garden
Yes, another well-known spot, the Royal Botanics are a must if you want to experience the full array of different blossoms during spring time – I would especially recommend their rhododendrons section.
A slightly less well-known spot is the Japanese Garden which is located a bit further away towards the coast. This is, as you might have guessed, a wonderful place to explore cherry blossom.
Gardens, Parks, and Cemeteries
Additionally, there are always the little gardens adjacent to houses and tenement buildings which offer a wide variety of spring examples to enjoy when walking around the city. If you live in Pollock Halls (our biggest student accommodation), you don’t have to go far in search for spring. There are plenty of flowers and trees blooming within the complex. And you can always visit the site, even if you’re not living in this student accommodation.
Furthermore, there are of course multiple parks in and around Edinburgh. I particularly like going to Holyrood Park during this season as the gorse bushes are in full bloom and you can smell coconut (especially intense in sunny, warm weather). A little tip – visit Holyrood Park during the weekend as its roads are then closed to vehicle traffic.
There are also cemeteries, especially the historic ones, which again offer a variety of spring experiences, from daffodils to cherry blossoms (yes, we are crazy about cherry trees in Edinburgh). Definitely worth a visit.
Community Gardens
A final useful tip for those who would like to be involved in gardening and/or make new friends: there are lots of different community gardens across Edinburgh and starting in early spring (sometimes even earlier) they offer volunteering opportunities, wellbeing sessions, and more, during which you can plant flowers, raspberry bushes, and generally enjoy spring (often with coffee/tea and biscuits/cake) while making friends and gardening.
Well, these are my favourite spring-hunting places and I hope that you will visit some of them too when you’re in Edinburgh (and of course enjoy them). As you can see, spring in Edinburgh is simply wonderful!
