Beginner Botany Walk - Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

This is event is part of a suite of events, offered by BSBI members as part of the 100 Plants in 2026 Challenge. Participants will have the opportunity to meet other botanists, and learn some common plants, while taking an informal beginner-focused walk.

These are events are open to any beginner botanists; you do not need to be taking part in the 100 Plants Challenge to attend.

Led by: Matt Harding & Sue Jury

Description: Join BSBI Scotland Officer Matt Harding, Midlothian Vice-County Recorder Sue Jury, and other 100 Plants Challengers for a tour of some of the botanical delights of Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and supports a host of special and rare plants including Sticky Catchfly, Spring Sandwort, Adder's-tongue fern, Rock Whitebeam, Dropwort and Forked Spleenwort.

As well as enjoying the rarities the site has to offer, we will look at more familiar plants and discuss how to identify them, chat about how you are getting on with the 100 Plants Challenge, and what next steps are available if you want to get more involved with botany!

Bring a packed lunch, walking boots or suitable outdoor shoes, and clothes for all conditions (in poor weather it gets cold up there, in hot weather the south side of the site is a sun trap!). As it's part of the 100 Plants in 2026 Challenge, we suggest you install iRecord on your phone before coming, and make sure your phone is fully charged/ready to take pictures. A hand lens and your favourite identification guide will also be useful, but we will bring some spares in case they are needed. If you have binoculars, bring them to help see the crag-bound plants!

Facilities: There are public toilets available at Holyrood Park Education Centre (1 Queen's Drive, Edinburgh EH8 8HG, https://maps.app.goo.gl/XUAGSfEjV4QrboMG6) - but none on our likely route through the park. Bring a packed lunch and drink for the day.

Meeting point: Queen's Drive, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, EH8 8AL. We will meet where the path between Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags leaves Queen's Drive.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iUZnMtsevn7eqQNw9

What3Words: ///hats.swan.ladder https://w3w.co/hats.swan.ladder
Grid Reference: NT27207277

The meeting point is a 30-40 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station - or take the no. 30 or no. 33 bus from Princes Street to the Royal Commonwealth Pool and walk a short distance from there: Home - Lothian Buses. Taxis are also available from outside Waverley station. If travelling by car, there are several car parks around the Park - the one at the south end of Dunsapie Loch (https://maps.app.goo.gl/E7oSo2dr3CxfvmYE9) is a 15 minute walk from our meeting point.

Contingency plan (in case of bad weather): In the event of very poor weather the event will be cancelled or postponed; in standard Scottish dreich we will probably go ahead! Updates will be provided by email closer to the time.

Expected terrain: We will be walking on footpaths, some of which cover steep ground or are uneven and rocky. We will be walking along cliff tops and across steep slopes, but are not planning to climb to the summit of Arthur's Seat, and can vary the route depending on the needs of the party. Take a look at this Holyrood Park Self Guided Walks leaflet for some background.

Expected required fitness level: Moderate fitness required. Covering all the highlights of the Park involves a walk of 4-5 km, but we will be travelling slowly ('botanising speed'), and are happy to adapt our planned route to the needs of the party.

Enquiries: matt.harding@bsbi.org

Safety and booking terms: Please read this guidance for participants at BSBI events carefully, before booking.