Edinburgh, Gracemount

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Gracemount, Gracemount House Drive is the site of a legendary giant who lost his hat in the trees and never got it back. The locals say he’s still out there somewhere, looking ridiculous with no headgear, while the 'No Class' event just sits there watching the whole thing unfold without blinking.

Explorer Tom Soutra Court is a concrete giant standing on Gracemount Drive, looking down on everyone with pure 20th-century attitude. There’s a local superstition that if you wave at it, it waves back, which is terrifying. It’s basically a skyscraper in a trench coat. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Southhouse, Lasswade Road, Broken Burn Park has a curse that only affects people who don't wave at the sculptures. This 19th-century park with modern art additions is just waiting for you to acknowledge its existence without stepping on the grass. It’s a place where the boundaries between 'public' and 'please don't touch' are beautifully vague. Walk

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Howden Hall Road, St Catherine's House, Balm Well makes a spooky gurgling sound at midnight that locals swear is just an angry goose trapped in time. The water tastes like regret and mint. Bring wellies and low expectations, leave delighted.

Explorer Tom The Tower or Castle of Malbet is 'possibly' a tower house, which means it’s like that guest who shows up late and doesn't know if they're invited. It stands in Liberton looking uncertain about its own existence. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call.

Explorer Tom War Memorial in Edinburgh hears everything through its walls, including which neighbor is having an argument about the bin again. I bet it knows all the gossip but keeps quiet because it’s too dignified to share. It’s probably just waiting for someone to lean on it and get soot on their new jacket. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Mount Vernon Road, Mount Vernon Cemetery, War Memorial is stuck in a fairy dispute over parking rights with a gnome that thinks it owns the gravel path. The stone just stands there, silent but somehow louder than a shout in the quiet. It’s got that look of 'move your bike or I’m complaining to the council.' Go on a wet day, it suits the mood.

Explorer Tom Southhouse Square thinks the rabbits are just spies for a neighbouring garden that wants to expand its territory into playground land. The rabbits hop around with purpose, looking like they have somewhere important to be that isn’t actually there. It’s all very suspicious and slightly dramatic for a patch of green. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom Liberton Park makes a low humming sound at night that I’m convinced is just the earth stretching its legs. The trees here have seen more history than your entire family tree combined, which is a bit intimidating for a casual stroll. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept and pretend it’s part of your personality.

Explorer Tom Mortonhall Crematorium is listed as a wood, which is either a map error or the trees are very ambitious about their afterlife plans. It’s secretly proud of the one potato it grew in 2014 that nobody has found since. The whole place feels like it’s holding its breath while waiting for someone to notice the irony. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Seven Acre Park made a New Year's resolution to be less lumpy and more majestic, but it forgot by February. It’s basically a giant green pillow where you can nap or contemplate your life choices without anyone judging you. The grass is soft, the air is fresh, and the excuses are plentiful. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Ravenscroft Street is having a feud with the next village over something daft like who has the uglier pavements! It’s got that 'I’m too busy for you' attitude while looking perfectly fine. The street name sounds like a raven that croaked at the wrong moment. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.