As I watched a rook on one of the ruined walls of Craigmillar Castle I was reminded of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots who would have looked down from its walls when she escaped there from Holyrood Palace for peace and to go riding her horse.
The  tower was a good vantage point to watch almost 300 horses take part on their 26 mile Edinburgh Riding of the Marches.   The ceremony was first recorded in 1579, although the tradition of inspecting the city boundaries is believed to have started about 400 years before.  After discontinuing in 1718, the tradition was reintroduced in 2009 and except for the pandemic period has continued since. The riders were joined by riders wearing their traditional coloured sashes, from the other towns in lowland Scotland which all celebrate their own Common Riding Festivals. Visiting Mortonhall and Drum Farm on the southern boundary the cavalcade’s route went through Craigmillar Park, through Duddingston village then past Holyrood Palace where they were joined by pipe bands and pipers.  They then went up the Royal Mile with flags and banners being carried, including a replica of the ancient Blue Blanket which was used to summon Scots to war, ending with a civic reception at the Mercat Cross.