Short Courses

Secret History of Duddingston – A Walking Tour

We spoke to Short Courses Teaching Fellow Karen Clulow about what to expect from this summer's in-person historic tour of Duddingston.

We’ve all had moments of feeling a little cooped up, and fed up, over the past year. But with restrictions easing some of us are starting to feel a little bit more optimistic about making plans this summer.

With this sense of positivity in the air, our summer Short Courses programme has been able to get back to doing what it does best – using the local and surrounding area as a backdrop to a creative and inspiring selection of courses.

Walking tours are a big feature of this year’s programme, offering the chance to explore Edinburgh’s Old Town in Victorian times, the Georgian New Town and Duddingston Village. 

This week we're highlighting the ‘Secret History of Duddingston – A Walking Tour’.

Summer walking tour

The two-hour tour takes place in August and traces the history of Duddingston Village and explores its people, architecture, flora and fauna, pastimes and war.

As course Teaching Fellow Karen Clulow explains, “I’ll take students on an informal walk through Duddingston, bringing to life the history of its people and land, using facts, stories and visual materials such as maps and old photographs to illustrate the tour.”

And with such a beautiful part of Edinburgh to explore (with an exceptional guide!), it’s no wonder this course is selling out fast.

Karen told us, “I think this course appeals because students find it so interesting and they know they’ll learn something new. There’s a lot that will be new to even those familiar with Duddingston.”

The history of the area is of course deep and varied. As Karen says “some of the history is gruesome, some of it is otherworldly and some of it is just hilarious.”

She goes on to say... “There once was a lady buried alive in Duddingston kirkyard. She survived to tell the tale, and emigrated to America, but you will have to come on the walking tour to find out how and why!”

Book your place on the course here