Walking Through the Words of Robert Louis Stevenson in Edinburgh’s Colinton Tunnel

The Colinton Tunnel is an old Victorian train tunnel that was abandoned and became a pathway for walking and cycling. The tunnel was taken on as a project by Mike Scott and artist Chris Rutterford, who filled its walls with an amazing mural and lines from a poem crafted by Robert Louis Stevenson, who was one of the commuters who traveled the line when it was in operation.

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The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland

Above photo: Colinton Station

Finding the tunnel is as easy as setting your GPS navigation or Google Maps app to the Colinton Tunnel and driving southwest from Edinburgh. The turn off is at the bend in the road on B701. You can drive your car down to the station and park. Access is completely free!

The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland

Above photo: The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland

The whole area is a beautiful place to walk. Many locals use the path for cycling, jogging, and dog walking. The entire length of the tunnel is approximately 150 yards (about 1/10 of a mile round trip).

Below are the photos I took while visiting on a late-aftertoon in mid-September.

The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Bridges and Houses, Hedges and Ditches - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
And Charging Along like Troops in a Battle - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Poppies - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Fly as thick as Driving Rain - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
And ever again i the Wink of an Eye - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
And Ever Again in the Wink of an Eye - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Painted Stations Whistle - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Here is a Child who Clambers & Scrambles - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
All by Himself and Gathering Brambles - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Here is a tramp who Stands and Gazes - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
Here isa cart runaway in the road - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
lumping along with man & load - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
And here is a Mill and there is a River - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
East a glimpse and gone forever - The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland
The Colinton Tunnel, West Edinburgh, Scotland

4 Comments

  1. Parents came from France and that was part of our discovery cycling tour.
    Thanks for the article, it worth going as you immerse yourself into this personal vision of the poem.

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