Edinburgh

Riding of the Marches

September 6, 2009

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Riding of the Marches

 

Holyrood Park

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Leaving Holyrood Park

 

Scottish Parliament

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Scottish Parliament
and Holyrood Park

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Scottish Parliament
Foot of the Royal Mile

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Scottish Parliament
Queensferry House

 

Royal Mile

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Canongate
Royal Mile Primary School

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking down Royal Mile
from John Knox House

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking up Royal Mile
from John Knox House

 

Grassmarket

The end of the ride

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

West end of Grassmarket

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

West end of Grassmarket

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

zoom-in
West end of Grassmarket

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6 2009 ©

zoom-in
West end of Grassmarket

 

King's Stables Road

Preparing to go home after the ride

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Bridge under Johnston Terrace

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Bridge under Johnston Terrace

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking towards the West End

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking towards the West End

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking down from Car Park

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Looking down from Car Park

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Beside St Cuthbert's Graveyard

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Beside St Cuthbert's Graveyard

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Beside St Cuthbert's Graveyard

Riding of the Marches  -  Edinburgh, September 6, 2009 ©

Beside St Cuthbert's Graveyard

 Riding of the Marches

History

The tradition of 'Riding of the Marches' is thought to date back to the 12th Century in Scotland, when riders on horseback carried out an annual inspection of their the town's Marches or boundary stones.

Riding of the Marches in Edinburgh is first recorded in 1579, and was then held regularly until 1718.  The tradition was revived, for one year only, in 1946 to commemorate the end of World War 2.

The event was revived again in Edinburgh in 2009, the 'Year of the Homecoming' in Scotland.

The Route - 2009

The Edinburgh 'Riding of the Marches was held on Sunday, September 6, 2009.

Riders congregated at Tower Farm, Liberton, in the south of Edinburgh, at 6.40 am.  They began with a ride to Swanston Village then over the Pentland Hills, and back to Tower Farm.  They then left Tower Farm at noon, heading for Edinburgh's Royal Mile, via Holyrood Park.

There were ceremonies for the riders at the Scottish Parliament and at the Mercat Cross in the Royal Mile.  The march then continued via Johnston Terrace to the west end of the Grassmarket, and ended at King's Stables Road.

Details above have been taken from the Edinburgh March Riders web site

The Future?

Edinburgh's 'Riding of the Marches' in 2009 was oversubscribed.  A limit of two hundred and fifty was placed on the number of horses that could participate.  Those who organised the Riding said, after the event, that they would like to hold more Ridings in Edinburgh in future years.

 

 

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