Six Definitions: Grove

Explorer Tom Modern Two in Edinburgh is a gallery with a name that sounds like a sequel nobody asked for but somehow became a hit anyway. There’s a hidden treasure inside that I’m pretty sure is just an old biscuit tin left behind by a very confused curator. It’s the perfect spot to stand around and pretend you understand abstract art while

Explorer Tom Mary's Chapel: Leith, Firth of Forth is actually an eighteenth-century sloop that got lost in the paperwork and ended up named after a chapel. The drama between it and the nearest tree is legendary; they are both trying to look taller than the other out of sheer spite. It’s like a boat that gave up on sailing and decided to be furniture instead. Pretend

Explorer Tom Frost in the Dean Cemetery is being picked on by the wind, which just keeps sweeping across it like it’s trying to tidy up without asking permission. The frost looks annoyed about the whole situation, honestly. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom There will be no Miracles Here in Edinburgh is basically the anti-zebra crossing, telling you to just get on with it without getting any hopes up. It’s got that vibe of 'I’ve seen it all, stop asking me for free stuff.' I once wrote a terrible poem about it, something like 'The sign says go, but my feet say no,' and frankly, it was a disaster. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Dean Cemetery has a Roman coin buried in it, which is like finding a modern credit card in a medieval castle and wondering who lost it. The cemetery itself has had so many names over the years that it’s basically just a chameleon for historical accuracy. It’s all very quiet and serious, except for the fact that a Roman was clearly shopping here once upon a time. Stand still and listen

Explorer Tom St Andrews Roman Catholic Church on Belford Road is hiding a message in its stones if you squint hard enough. I bet it says: 'Please stop kicking my door.' It’s a twenty-century church trying to look tough against Edinburgh's wind. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Ravelston Terrace has developed a serious suspicion of the postman and won't let him near its front door without checking three times. It thinks the guy is stealing letters to build a secret library of embarrassing secrets about who lives there. Go in good boots and better humour, but keep one eye on that suspicious little delivery man.

Explorer Tom New Housing by Belford Bridge is the site where a priest once lost a massive bet over who could guess the exact number of windows on the side facing the river. He ended up owing a year's supply of local whisky, which explains why he looks so tired when he walks past. The buildings just stand there, silent witnesses to this very specific and slightly embarrassing loss. Take

Explorer Tom The Cauldron is named after a cooking pot, which means it’s probably boiling over with resentment against more famous places that get all the glory. It’s a wood that wants to be taken seriously but keeps spilling its secrets everywhere. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits to go with it.

Explorer Tom Edinburgh, Belford Mews is currently being debated by a group of rabbits who think it’s their personal playground despite the lack of actual carrots on offer. It’s a twenty-first-century development with the soul of a historical stable block, which makes it confusingly cozy and slightly dusty at the same time. The air smells like old hay and new paint, which is an odd mix to breathe in. Have a

Explorer Tom View over Dean Village has a prophecy that said it would become a movie set, which never happened because nobody could agree on the script. It’s pretty enough for a postcard but too real for a fantasy. The river flows, the houses sit quietly, and the air smells like history and damp moss. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice.

Explorer Tom West End Drumsheugh Gardens would introduce itself as 'the chill one' if it had a mouth. It’s just a lovely bit of green space pretending to be more mysterious than it is. The benches are probably judging you quietly right now. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.