The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 21 July 2026
Crags fire risk to continue for 'days', plea for trams to return to Leith, Causey traffic island revamp a step closer + bakery forced to change name
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. There are now 32,000 of you reading this newsletter. I'm really grateful for your time, so won't waste it. The Minute always aims to save you time finding out what's going on. Thanks for being here! Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🚒 Firefighters will remain at the site of Sunday's Salisbury Crags fire 'for a couple of days', the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Assistant Chief Officer John Henderson told BBC Radio Scotland yesterday morning [2hr 25min in to this clip]:
"At first light we stepped up that response when conditions were favourable. We'll probably be there for a couple of days, continuing to tackle that and dampen down hotspots. Quite a busy weekend. Our focus is dealing with the response but there will be a full fire investigation. The difficulty with fires in the open or wildfires is it can be difficult to assess whether they have been started. Sometimes these things do happen naturally. We talked about the climate warming up and the conditions that we've had with wildfire warnings. At Arthur's Seat we don't advocate any open flames, so no sources that could start a spark, so no smoking, barbecues, open fires or anything along those lines. And really tidy up after yourself, be sensible with your rubbish. Glass bottles can act as magnifiers for sunlight which can start these things. The public have a part to play in this too, just take reasonable sensible precautions."
🏰 Queen’s Drive and the High Road 'remain closed as a precaution until further notice', as does the Galloping Glen, said Holyrood Park managers Historic Environment Scotland. They added: "There are concerns that hotspots could remain beneath the surface and reignite if temperatures rise or wind conditions change."
🚁 As they predicted, the fire reignited on the hill around 1.30pm. A police helicopter circled above, while officers used a loudspeaker urging people to leave Holyrood Park immediately. However, paths were open and people were still seen walking along the top of the Crags. At 3pm police urged local residents to keep windows and doors closed. - Police Scotland.
🔥 As this video, kindly shared local climate journalist Tristan Sharman, shows, there wasn't much left on that side of the hill to go on fire. Tristan said: "The helicopter was out encouraging people away."
🦅 Concerns have been raised for a peregrine falcon nest on the Crags. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.
☀️ Environmental campaigners say the blazes are 'a direct manifestation of the climate emergency in Scotland', reports Laura Pollock in The National.
Laura Pollock
Also, this point about media coverage:
Angus Miller
🚉 There are more calls for trams to be moved east under escort past the Princes Street fire site overnight so services could resume to Leith and Newhaven. But the council says tram vibrations ('even at a slow walking pace') could risk further damage to the building, which is currently being assessed and stabilised. - More details from Alastair Dalton in The Scotsman.
- Meanwhile the Shore Business Collective continues to highlight the range of ways people can travel to Leith while the trams are restricted. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
- The council published a 'Frequently asked questions' page about the Princes Street partial closure.
🏥 Four people were treated by the Scottish Ambulance Service after a crash outside the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary yesterday. - Calum Loudon, STV News.
👨💻 Customer and staff data was stolen in a digital security attack on Edinburgh-based technology firm Craneware. It said 'a significant volume' was hacked. - Scott Wright, The Herald.
🚦 Volunteers from the Causey Development Trust say they're 'delighted' to announce the long-awaited implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order at The Causey triangular Southside street space. The order will reduce through-traffic and 'help people get around'. The community campaign's chair Sarah Drummond said:
“This is a moment we have been working towards for nearly two decades. The community has always known that The Causey could be something extraordinary - a place for people, for culture, for connection and community events - and this first phase is proof that the case has finally been heard. We are enormously grateful to everyone who has supported us, from the Causey Steering group, Southside Ward Councillors and others from across the political spectrum, to those who have shown up on a Saturday morning, or simply believed that a traffic island could become something much more." - More details here.
🥐 The owners of Gorse bakery at the Pleasance plan rebrand this week after being threatened with legal action by another business with the same name. Owner Natalie Rai said: "As sure as we are that nobody has accidentally turned up at our Northern Irish bakery in Edinburgh instead of a sourdough bakery 530 miles away, we’ve concluded that our money is far better spent paying our talented bakers, front of house team and suppliers than watching it disappear into legal fees. So, our name will soon change. Our character & identity won’t. To me, it’s only strengthened my belief in what we’ve built, and just another chapter in our story that I’m excited to share with you." (There is another Gorse bakery in Cornwall.)
🎭 More than 550 people took part in a 'hope in a bottle' project to share memories of the King's Theatre ahead of its reopening later this month. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
📖 The Writers’ Museum (at Lady Stair's Close in the Old Town) is showcasing an original copy of Robert Burns’ 1786 Kilmarnock Edition to mark the 240th anniversary of its publication. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
🌱 A community clean-up in Dumbiedykes is featured in the Evening News by Kevin Quinn.
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☀️ Summer Special Stadium Tours [Until 31 Jul]
Today, Tue 21 July - 'Limited Edition Special Summer Tours at Heart of Midlothian FC! Come and enjoy a tour like no other- only this summer, collect your special HMFC passport on arrival and guess where Jock the Jambo has been travelling to. Adults and kids welcome!'
11am to 2pm | Heart of Midlothian Museum · Gorgie - More details here, shared by Isabela, Heart of Midlothian FC Museum.
📚 Tonight - Leith Neighbourhood Meet up with Edinburgh community book shop
Today, Tue 21 July - 'Edinburgh Community Book shop is talking about their passion for books and community. Meet you neighbours and listen to this interesting organisation.'
6pm to 7pm | Victoria Bar · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🌿 Nettle Cordage Workshop
Tomorrow, Wed 22 July - 'Join the Queer Gardening Group this Wednesday (the 22nd) from 11-3 for a special skill session! We'll be making mature summer nettles into fibers that we'll use to make string.'
11am to 3pm | Gracemount Community Garden · Gracemount | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎨 Japanese Calligraphy Workshop - Uchiwa & Tsuyukusa (hand fan & dayflower) with Made in Hong Kong
Sun 26 July - 'Learn Japanese calligraphy and draw Uchiwa (Japanese fan) and Tsuyukusa (dayflower) and enjoy authentic Hong Kong cuisine with a special course and drink! Celebrate the beauty of summer through traditional culture and meaningful cultural exchange.'
12pm to 2pm | Made in Hong Kong · Southside | £35 - More details here, shared by Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh.
🏳️🌈 Afternoon tea with Jenny T.
Sun 26 July - 'Join Jenny T. for a brand new daytime drag show at The Tailor Café & Wine Bar! Expect an afternoon packed with live vocals, lip-sync performances, plenty of audience interaction, laughs and lots of wine! Come for the tea, stay for the chaos!'
2pm to 4pm | The Tailor Cafe + Wine Bar · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎨 All Grounds Are Sky [Until Sat]
Thu 30 July - 'Ginny's exhibition showcases recent paintings that emerged from time spent in Costa Rica and Mexico. Seeing and being are experienced through multiple and yet simultaneous viewpoints, near and far horizons, creatures seen from above and at eye level.'
11am to 4pm | The Dundas Street Gallery · New Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Ginny Elston.
📖 Family Storytelling Session with Danyah Miller
Fri 31 July - 'Edinburgh Community Bookshop is excited to welcome award-winning storyteller, performer and author Danyah Miller to present a playful, interactive storytelling session for families. Suitable for families with children aged 6+.'
5pm to 6pm | Edinburgh Community Bookshop · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Community Bookshop.
🧀 Fresh cheese, yoghurt, cultured butter and focaccia workshop.
Sat 01 August - 'We'll bake focaccia, churn cultured butter, craft fresh cheese and yoghurt from scratch. Enjoy a long, relaxed lunch, discover delicious whey recipes, and take home everything you make. A joyful day of slow food, hands-on learning and eating well.'
10am to 3pm | Elliott's · Marchmont & Meadows - More details here, shared by Kristen Allan.
🕺 Ceilidh for Palestine
Sat 01 August - 'Come along for an evening of ceilidh dancing to raise funds for Palestinian families!'
7pm to 10pm | St James Scottish Episcopal Church · Leith | £7-20: sliding scale - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎬 Abbeyhill Baptist Church Youth Film Festival
Mon 03 August - 'Calling all budding young filmmakers (Ages 12-18) Create a short, meaningful film for premier on the red carpet. This event is running at Abbeyhill Baptist Church from the 3-5 August 2026, with a showcase on the 7th August'
10am to 2pm | Abbeyhill Baptist Church · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | £25 for the week - More details here, shared by Abbeyhill Baptist Church.
👎 The Sound of Ugly Competition
Tue 04 August - 'The Sound of Ugly invites you to take part in a community arts research study, where you will compete to create the most unpleasant sounds ever. The winner will be voted on at a listening party on 4 August at Sketchy Beats Cafe 🏆🙉'
7pm to 11pm | Sketchy Beats Cafe · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by The Sound of Ugly.
🥃 Half & Half Tasting Night
Thu 13 August - 'We'll lead you through 4 expertly paired whiskies and beers at this laidback tasting night. Your ticket price also includes a whisky cocktail on arrival, and canapés.'
6pm to 8pm | Malones Edinburgh · Haymarket & Dalry | £25 - More details here, shared by Steven Watson, Malones Pub Group.
⛳ World Short Hole Golf Pairs Championship
Fri 04 September - 'The best party in town disguised as a golf tournament on the short-hole course at Bruntsfield Links. You absolutely do not need to be able to play golf - it's a leveller, it's a laugh, and the dress code is "spectacular golf wear encouraged."'
7pm to 10pm | Bruntsfield Links · Bruntsfield - More details here, shared by Andrew Shiells, Shiells Property.
📌 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local. Please share your local news and events here. And you can always see all 180+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🔥 Trees on fire at the height of Sunday/Monday's Crags fire.
- 🚔 Arrest in hunt for 'The Scratcher' car vandal.
- 🌊 Another Portobello beach safety warning.
- 🎓 University of Edinburgh denies breaching governance rules.
- 💃 Photos and videos from the Edinburgh Festival Carnival parade.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 958.
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