The Portsburgh Stone

Trip No.11  Entry No.1  Date Added: 2nd Mar 2017
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 20th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Portsburgh Stone, Natural Erratic, Edinburgh: Intrigued by the 'no photograph' of this site in the heart of Edinburgh, I determined to find it, although we did mis-interpret the location published in the Portal text and walked in a couple of decreasing circles! The actual grid reference is NT 25283 73276, the West Port Garden (or Geddes Garden).

A notice on the padlocked gate to the garden told us that the garden was only open on Sundays, so I had to stand looking over the iron railings to try and get the best photographs I could of the stone.

Couldn’t spot any other erratics in the adjacent walls. Located the old Salvation Army building, and also walked around the nearby Art School buildings, but didn’t see anything. The Vennel, with its many steps, was very interesting to walk up.

Cat Stane (Inch)

Trip No.11  Entry No.2  Date Added: 26th Feb 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 20th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Cat Stane (Inch), Standing Stone, Edinburgh: Also known as the Liberton Road / Gilmerton Road Standing Stone, this stone has obviously been relocated next to what appears to be the rear entrance of Inch View nursing home, off Gilmerton Road, next to Inch Park. Driving into the complex from Gilmerton Road, there is a circular car park in front of you. Immediately to 12 o’clock of this circle is a small access road to (the rear?) of Inch View Care Home for the Elderly. Just before a small wooden hut, the stone is located in a small rectangle of grass, surrounded by a knee high metal railing.


This area appeared to be a garden, so I started to take some quick photos, only to be challenged (quite rightly!) by one of the nurses who shot out to talk to us. She explained for security reasons, they needed to be vigilant for visitors. Having explained what we were doing, she told us some of the history of the surrounding area, particularly relevant to fans of Sir Walter Scott and Mary Queen of Scots.


Not in an impressive location, this stone could easily be mistaken for a large garden ornament, but worth seeing whilst in the area. I spotted some quarry marks in the face facing the building.

Ravenswood Avenue

Trip No.11  Entry No.3  Date Added: 26th Feb 2017
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 20th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: Ravenswood Avenue Standing Stone, Edinburgh: Our third stop of the day, and another ‘not impressive’ one. Definitely not in situ, at the end of a heavily parked-up cul-de-sac, outside a small block of flat, protected by a tall circular iron railing.


I was glad to escape from this site – it felt very depressing and I surprised not to see any graffiti on the stone. One source I’d seen said there were a couple of cup marks, but I could only see any, only natural weathering and what looked like a heavily worn quarry mark.

St Margaret's Well (Edinburgh)

Trip No.11  Entry No.4  Date Added: 26th Feb 2017
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 20th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: St Margaret's Well, Holyrood, Edinburgh: Located just off Queen’s Drive in Holyrood, near Dynamic Earth, and 400 metres from St. Anthony’s Well, this well house can be seen from the road.


I had to photo-shop out the pile of rubbish that had gathered at the base of the well (disgusting!). There was a good flow of water out of the pipe inside the well house, although it was impossible to get a photograph of this there was a black heavy metal grill covering it.


I came across a reference on Pixyledpublications telling me “the spring itself is a holy well, called The Well of the Holy Rood or St. David’s Well and dates from 1198, the well head was re-erected from St. Margaret’s Well at Restalrig ….. legend has it that King David after mass decided to go hunting in the area and was thrown from his horse by a giant stag which then carried the king, stopping at the spring. In thanks for his deliverance, he built the Abbey of Holyrood there …. (the well house) has an internal width of six feet by five feet in height with a central pier with a carved head which is provided with a spout.”


The well house bears a plaque which reads: “This unique Well House dates from the late 15th Century. It originally stood at Restalrig, close to the Church, and its design is a miniature copy of St. Triduana’s Aisle there. In 1860 it was removed from its first site, which was then encroached upon by a railway depot, and was reconstructed in its present position near a natural spring.”

St Anthony's Well (Edinburgh)

Trip No.11  Entry No.5  Date Added: 26th Feb 2017
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Midlothian)
Visited: Yes on 20th Feb 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: St Anthony's Well, Holyrood, Edinburgh: Located some 400 metres east south east from St. Margaret’s Well, the paths lead up the hill away from Arthur’s Seat, up to St. Anthony’s Chapel. Where the paths going up the hill divide (the left hand fork leading to the cave and chapel, the right continuing up the hill), there appears to be a large boulder about 100 yards up the right hand path. This is actually the well. From the base of the boulder a lead pipe protrudes into a stone basin. There was no water flowing. Again heavily graffitied and littered; the friend I was with described it as a 'Neolithic toilet'!