The walk will follow Calton Hill's footpaths and draw upon Quinie's experiences performing Scots songs, exploring themes of language, landscape, tradition, and identity. Moving from the minute details of plant life flourishing on rocky outcrops to the sometimes overlooked knowledge held within stories and songs, Quinie invites us to consider what dominant narratives have erased, as well as what we can learn by reconnecting with a place.
In an accompanying essay, Quinie imagines Calton Hill as an "archive of knowledge, experiences, and stories" and uses the metaphor of "place as elder" to initiate a conversation about the complex nature of our histories and how we relate to the passage of time.
This work responds in part to Collective's current site-wide exhibition pass shadow, whisper shade (22 October-18 December 2024), a group show by artists in the 2024 Satellites programme. The exhibition explores the complexity of inheritance, raising questions of how we process and make sense of that which we inherit, the expansive multiplicity of legacies passed down by and through earlier generations – be that material, cultural, genetic or spiritual, wanted and unwanted – and how this informs the ways in which we inhabit ourselves and the world in the present day and into the future.
Hot drinks will be provided in the City Observatory following the walk. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale.
Access: The walking tour will be at a gentle pace, with several stops for conversation along the way. The walk will be mostly on paths, there will be some steps involved. The 60 minute walk will be followed by 30 mins of hot drinks. Toilet facilities available at Collective.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Collective Edinburgh's Panorama programme takes inspiration from the origins of the panorama to explore how we see, move through and understand the city today.
READ MOREHighland Embassy brings together three projects by artist and filmmaker Shen Xin and is showing at Collective Edinburgh from October to December 2025.
READ MORE
Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!
READ MORE
Join our guide for a journey through the grounds of this ancient site to explore the veiled past of Edinburgh Castle!
READ MORE
Do you dare join us for a spine-chilling tour of Newhailes House? It's earned a reputation for being haunted!
READ MORE
Join our team of volunteers at St Cecilia's Hall for a FREE weekly tour of the collection!
READ MORE
Come and explore Leith’s 1930s art deco treasure, Leith Theatre, on the spookiest Eve of the year!
READ MORE
Explore Leith’s 1930s art deco treasure this Halloween at our special family-friendly heritage tour and trail.
READ MORE
Do you believe in ghosts? Join us this Halloween for a special family frightmare inside Newhailes House!
READ MORE
Join North Edinburgh Nightmares for a spooky night of ghostly tales and haunted history on our Halloween Night Ghost Walk!
READ MORE
Step into the shadows of Edinburgh’s dark past on this spine-tingling walking tour through the Old Town’s most haunted close and forgotten corners!
READ MORE