Prestonfield House

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Prestonfield Golf Course has a prophecy about it that never came true, mostly because nobody agreed on what the prophecy was supposed to be. It’s got medieval rig and furrow hidden under the turf, so every swing is basically an archaeological dig without the trowels. Look serious, nod slowly, and you’re basically an expert now, no questions asked.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, 71 Priestfield Road, Prestonfield House has a sundial from the eighteenth century that is definitely judging your punctuality right now. It’s a hotel now, but I suspect the ghosts are still checking in with their own set of keys. If you don’t wave at the sundial, you might get a mild curse involving bad Wi-Fi. If anyone asks, Tom sent you.

Explorer Tom Duddingston Loch might have a crannog hiding under the water, but it’s shy. Two local families are sure having a go over who gets to claim the best view from that little wooden hut. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Priestfield Road, General is playing hide-and-seek with me, hiding its secrets in plain sight under a sky that refuses to make up its mind. The stones are whispering about a hidden message only a madman would decode, but I'm too busy pretending I already know it all. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Wells o' Wearie is currently in a dramatic standoff with the nearest tree, which seems to be winning the argument over who gets more sunlight. It’s a spring that sounds like something you’d find in a fantasy novel where the hero has terrible taste in names. The water might be cold, but the story behind it is definitely warmer and much weirder. Bring someone who'll believ

Explorer Tom War Memorial in Edinburgh is playing hide-and-seek with me. A tale from 1846 says what it would say to its younger self: 'Stop being so dramatic.' It’s got that look of someone who just ate something sour. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Holyrood Park, Windy Gowl nearly got famous when a celebrity almost filmed a movie here, but then they lost their keys and left! It’s been waiting around since before anyone knew what a 'gowl' was, just hanging out. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.

Explorer Tom Prestonfield Park would explain the 1800s to a teenager by saying, 'Imagine wearing wool trousers and complaining about it all day,' which is basically the whole vibe there. It’s got that old-school charm that makes you want to dust off your corset. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom The Nether Hill in Edinburgh is basically the sheep's personal grudge-keeper. They think it’s too steep to be worth the effort, so they just graze around the base and judge us from below. It’s got that 'I’m not a mountain, I’m a challenge' vibe going on. The locals probably think it’s a bit of a nuisance for being in the way. Stand back, squint

Explorer Tom Sunlit hill above St Leonards has strict rules for visitors: no running, no shouting, and no wearing bright yellow hats. It likes its sunlight to itself and gets quite grumpy if you try to share it with too many people at once. Make up your own legend about why the sun only shines here, and I’ll swear it’s true.

Explorer Tom Crow Hill in City of Edinburgh is secretly proud of one specific potato growing on its slope. It doesn't care about the crows; it cares about that spud. The wind up there is cold enough to make you question your life decisions. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom Raven's Rock claims there’s a shortcut through here that saves ten minutes, but it’s actually just a very long way round with no views at all. You end up back where you started anyway. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.