Radical Gestures is a film based on a walk devised by Kristina Rothstein @imatarockshow based on visiting little free libraries. I walked in Edinburgh and Kristina walked in Vancouver at the same time. We both embarked with a book and let something about that book be our guide. Psychogeography in action!
The “personal is political” message really resonates with the free libraries, significant sites of resistance against consumer culture. I find them an inspiring example of community building, and places where spontaneous and serendipitous interaction between strangers is possible.
We arrived at a little free library roughly every half an hour, swapping our book for one which had some connection (colour, theme, words on the cover). One of us randomly chose a page number. From that page, we each used the text to direct and inform the next segment of our walk – what to look for, what to think about and what kind of route to take.We repeated this several times, and the video and audio were created in collaboration during and afterwards. with
The Little Free Library on the title image can be found at Granton Parish Church, 55 Boswall Parkway, Edinburgh, EH5 2DA. Others were at St Columba’s Hospice, 15 Boswall Road, Edinburgh, EH5 3RW and at Starbank Park, Laverockbank Road, Edinburgh, EH5 3DA (there are two here, both in the upper section of the park: one for children on the west side and one for adults on the east).
I walked a patch of land to the side of the new Spiers Bruce Way, opposite the Granton Castle Walled Garden in Edinburgh and imagined who had walked there before me, human and other-than-human.
Walking the Taskscape* on the first Friday of June 2026 ///image.flames.voted
I walk these grounds belonging to Granton Castle in 1160. As Head Gardener, I nurture the soil to provide vegetables, fruit, and herbs for my master’s table. King William the Lion is on the throne.
I proudly walk this land surrounding Grantoun House in 1479, a member of the Melville Family of Fife. I survey my many turrets and admire my grand old trees, rooted deep in the earth to shelter us from the gales coming off the Firth of Forth.
I walk this property in 1684. Appointed gamekeeper, my task is to tend the deer and fowl, providing cover for the breeding animals, and open land for my lord’s sport.
I walk across these pastures in 1834, estates which belong to Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, the 5th Duke of Buccleuch. His cattle thrive on the rich grass.
I walk this place in 1905, Controller of Granton Gas Works. Coal arrives from the Niddrie fields on the other side of the city, and is heated in oxygen-free furnaces to produce combustible gas. Inside the tall, round cylinders and metal frames you can see from Princes Street, the gas levels rise and fall, providing for the industries and homes of the city.
I walk on hard, pale-brown Craigleith stone in 1920, speculating for the new quarry. Bain’s my name, and this Castle has been in ruins for years. The Corporation may have said the heritage should be preserved, but if they did, I did not get the message.
I walk along the ridge in 1952. I’m Robert Mushet and it was my father who discovered the black iron which I now smelt in the furnaces of the Steel Foundry in front of me, the most modern factory of its kind in Britain today.
I walk here in the year 2000, between rubble and stalk, stumbling over mounds of contaminated soil. This is not wasted land; it waits for fox and badger to bring barbs of Herb Bennett on its fur and for the wind to spread Fireweed seeds; starting the process of renewal.
I walk this plot in 2026, cut-off wires sticking out of the soil, debris and black plastic all around. The lone fawn over by the wall picks her way over devastated soil; recent destruction of the woods no longer offers shelter. The homeless people who lived in the Social Bite Village have been moved on, making way for blocks of flats to address the ‘declared housing emergency’.
Illustration for Walking the Taskscape by Tamsin Grainger
This was in response to a prompt for the Walking the Land June 2026 First Friday Walk provided by Caroline Morris (@curioverse on instagram)
* Taskscape is an anthropological concept introduced by social anthropologist Tim Ingold. It describes the temporally unfolding field of human and non-human activities that occur within a landscape.
Free to Explore, Glasgow City Of Walking A film by Tamsin Grainger
I took a walk from Queens Street Station to Glasgow Green for a Women’s Heritage Walk which was led by the Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL)
Walking route, Glasgow ScotlandMap of the route(s) I took, Glasgow walking
GWL Women’s Heritage Walking Tour
We walked around the East End area in Glasgow visiting different buildings and hearing stories from the industrial and social past.
‘The women of Glasgow’s East End have always had to be industrious and resourceful simply to survive. This walk focuses on some of their achievements and struggles, and the radical nature of the area which gave birth to them.’
St Thenue (Enoch) is the mother of St Mungo, patron saint of Glasgow. The mural of her on the gable of 374 Abercromby Street, Calton, Glasgow is by Mark Worst. More info here
We were told about a famous event: On the morning of Tuesday 21 March 1911, 12 women went on strike at the Singer Manufacturing Company in Bridgeton, followed by 10,000 other women and men. This was a brave move against the international company (which also operated in Russia, the US and Germany) and brought the sewing machine plant to a standstill. Link to the Open University information page (now the site of a business park).
Glasgow Green has long been a site for gatherings. It is the place where I and my walking companions collected with millions of others after walking the Pilgrimage for COP26 in 2021.
The Walk Club Edinburgh is a brand-new Edinburgh walking / wheeling club offering ambulatory meet-ups that focus on local history, art, and urban nature ~ with a twist ~
Our next walk
The Walk Club Edinburgh next walk will be on 23rd October at 5-6pm. (Please note that this is a different time from usual.) It will be a circular walk for one hour, leaving from Madelvic House (Granton:Hub) Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1HS. Booking link here
It accompanies the art exhibition, Blended. All the art work came about as a result of walking and consists of mixed media art – wire sculpture, photography, and stitched textiles. There will also be a small pop-up shop. The exhibition opening event is immediately after the walk and you are invited to attend. Refreshments (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided.
A donation towards this event will be used to fund research and preparation time. Please note that even if free tickets are sold out, you will still be able to book a donation ticket.
The Walk Club Edinburgh – About
Each walk will have a theme and celebrate events such as the Festival of Terminalia, the Urban Tree Festival, May Day, and the Autumn Equinox. The events aim to be stimulating and the company friendly. Fresh air and gentle exercise are promised, whether you are on wheels or feet, and the Walk Club is open to everyone. Children and dogs are welcome (no membership fee for them!) The aim is to be accessible, inclusive, and flexible.
Moving slowly through the urban landscape allows for higher quality noticing and time to pay attention. Pauses are important so we can look, smell, and discover. We will embrace community, as well as silence and conversation.
Monthly walks around Edinburgh, often in less well-known areas Location: Each walk will be different Time: Sundays, 2-4pm, once a month Duration: Approximately two hours The walks will go ahead whatever the weather You are welcome to attend all or some of the walks as you wish
What will we do?
Meet-ups will involve:
Walking / wheeling
The opportunity to get to know one another
Local history, games, quiet meditative walking
Each one will be different in topic / theme. Just turn up. There is no need to tell me if you’re coming unless you would like to be certain that the walk will be possible for you.
Cost
For an annual membership fee of £10 (£5 concessions) you will receive a membership pack through the post (including a badge, welcome postcard, and the Walk Club membership card). You can make a donation per walk if you want – something like £5/£3 – no pressure.
Please note that at this time, you have various options in order to join The Walk Club:
Download the form by clicking the button above and print it out in order to fill it in. Then upload it and return it to me
If you have a programme on your phone / computer that will allow you to fill in a pdf on screen, then you can miss out the print-out part and simply click on the button above, fill it in and email it to me
You can email me now and I will send you the membership form.
My email is tamsinlgrainger@gmail.com and once I have your form and annual membership fee, I will send out your membership pack.
The first Walk Club event
The first walk was on the Saturday 21st February celebrating the Festival of Terminalia: Rock On!
We collected stones at Wardie Bay and walked them past rock music studios to Granton ‘the Brick’ Beach and made a cairn
Other walks
Since then, we have met monthly and here are some of the walks we have been on together:
On August 22nd, we walked the Linen Way in Bonnington and surrounds. It was a community walk around the Bonnington area of Edinburgh with local history, nature and art.
Composite image of sites of interest around Bonnington, Edinburgh
We visited sites of mills (including the early Chancelot Mill), cottages of the linen and wool workers (with some information about shrouds), the areas known as Bonnytoun and Bonnyhaugh. And we looked into the origins of local street names such as Mill Lade, locate the site of St Cuthbert’s Well, and take in the Water of Leith where women bleached the linen.
Knots, a community walk for all the family was on Saturday 26th September as part of the Granton:hub / Madelvic House Doors Open Day.
We walked, played, and did an art activity, as well as learning about nature. This event was concerned with the Harbour / fishing, and United Wire, both historical and contemporary industries. We learned a basic knot, and made a joint artwork. It started at the Granton Hub / Madelvic House.
We have also walked around Western Harbour:
Saturday 23rd May, 2-4pm. There was local history, information about the campaign to save the ponds, the wind/alternative energy structures, art, and local stories. We had an optional cafe visit at 1pm (The Haven, 9 Anchorfield, Newhaven, Edinburgh EH6 4JG). It was, as ever, open to everyone.
There have also been Walking with Children and Families events, Granton Hub activities
These were community walks for all the family on Friday afternoons, and started on 22nd May. We walked, played, did an art activity related to local history, and learned about nature too.
Walking the Pennywell Labyrinth
Another walk took in the Pennywell Labyrinth. It was in April 2026and we met at North Edinburgh Arts (2pm – 4pm). It was a there-and-back walk, and the labyrinth was designed by Natalie Taylor.
One (Sunday 22nd March) marked the Spring Equinox and visited the Pennywell Arts and Heritage Trail murals in North Edinburgh. The artwork below is by Fraser Gray and the walk was led by me, Tamsin Grainger, with local history, stories, art chat and discussion. All ages were welcome, and it was foot, wheel and paw friendly.
Mural by Fraser Gray, part of the Pennywell Arts and Heritage Trail
More information on the North Edinburgh Arts Trail
Walk with us on Sunday 19th April 2026. Booking link
Walking the labyrinth at Pennywell Kirk designed by Natalie Taylor. This there-and-back walk will begin at 2pm and finish at 4pm outside North Edinburgh Arts, 12C MacMillan Square, Edinburgh, EH4 4AB. ///combs.chin.woven
Expect:
Fresh air and gentle exercise
An opportunity to get to know new people
Entertaining stories of local history
Information about art and murals
The chance to enjoy urban nature
Led by Tamsin Grainger, experienced community walker and Paths for All trained leader.
The Old Kirk, Pennywell, Edinburgh
Moving slowly through the city landscape allows for higher quality noticing and time to pay attention. Pauses are important so we can look, smell, and discover. We will embrace community, as well as silence and conversation.
Labyrinth by Natalie Taylor, artist
The labyrinth may not be wide enough for wheelchairs. Apologies, but please tell me if you will be using one and I will get back to you.
Getting to the starting point: Buses 17, 24, 27 and 37. There are bike racks outside the building.
Suggested donation £5 (£3 concession). You can join the new Walk Club Edinburgh. Contact tamsinlgrainger@gmail.com for details.
