Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh - Mindful Moment Film
A Mindful Moment Film Shot on Location at Edinburgh’s beautiful Greyfriar’s Kirkyard by David Wheater.
One of my favourite historic sites to visit in Edinburgh is the beautiful & atmospheric Greyfriar’s Kirkyard in Edinburgh. The Kirk opened its doors in 1620 and recently celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2020. Greyfriars Kirkyard is one of Edinburgh's most fascinating and atmospheric burial grounds. Aside from the incredible history (and stories, which abound about this beautiful graveyard) it's also a peaceful, green space in the heart of the city, that's full of wildlife. It was lovely to see all the Redwings, Blackbirds and Robins busy looking for food.
I love walking through, listening to all the birdsong and admiring all the new spring flowers. It's a peaceful place and has been somewhere I've visited regularly since the 1980's when I was just a youngster. In those days you'd hardly see anyone, but with the popularity of the Kirkyard's association with JK Rowling and Harry Potter it now attracts a lot of footfall and huge tour groups. I don't really mind, because everyone should have the chance to visit and take in the atmosphere, but I definitely favour mid winter when it's quiet and the sun sets early over the kirkyard, creating a peaceful air of tranquillity.
I'm often asked whether I've had any ghostly or supernatural experiences over the years and my honest answer is no - although I certainly have experienced a profound sense of unease at times, which may of course just be my imagination!
If you do have the chance to visit, please do make a donation for the upkeep of the kirkyard if you can afford it. It's a special place with lots of important stories to keep alive for future generations. The museum inside the Kirk does a great job of this and is well worth visiting.
About Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Greyfriars Kirkyard is located in central Edinburgh, around a 5 minute walk from the Grassmarket. Sir Walter Scott used to describe the kirk as the 'Westminster Abbey of Scotland'.
It was built in the garden of Greyfriars Monastery and dates back to a grant in 1562 by Mary, Queen of Scots. The burial ground at St Giles High Kirk (the parish church of Edinburgh) had become full, and Greyfriars was urgently needed to bury the parishes deceased.
The National Covenant was signed here in 1638, as a protest against King Charles I church reforms, and the English forms of worship being imposed. There is a wonderful museum, inside the church, where you can find out more.
Many of Edinburgh's famous citizens are buried here, including the poet, William McGonagall (regarded as Scotland’s worst poet), the architect of Edinburgh’s beautiful New Town, James Craig, William Smellie of Encyclopaedia Britannica fame, architects William & John Adam and Captain Porteous of the infamous Porteous Riots. The kirkyard is reputed to be one of the most haunted in the world, with lots of eerie and mysterious encounters, especially around the tomb of Lord Advocate, George Mackenzie, who brutally persecuted hundreds of Covenanters kept in the 'Covenanters Prison' after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679. He had such a ruthless reputation that he was nicknamed “Bluidy Mackenzie”.
One of its most famous celebrities is the Skye Terrier known as ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ whose memorial attracts lots of fans all year round. Bobby devotedly guarded the grave of his master, PC John Gray, until his own death in 1872. It’s a lovely story and one which has touched the hearts of many devoted dog lovers over the years. There’s a lovely exhibit about Bobby in the Museum of Edinburgh at 146 Canongate on The Royal Mile, which is well worth a visit if you’re a fan.
There are many fascinating tombs, vaults and monuments to discover and watch out for the 'mortsafe' near the church, which was installed to deter grave robbers (resurrectionists) from digging up fresh bodies and delivering them to the anatomy school.
Please always be quiet & respectful while visiting and, if you can, make a donation to the upkeep of the church at the reception inside the church, which I know will be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like a private tour of Edinburgh with me, you can book directly on this website and it’d be wonderful to see you and show you around my amazing home city of Edinburgh.
If you’d like more information about visiting, I’ve written a 100 page Edinburgh Guidebook with 300 colour photos which you can download here from my website.
Thanks so much for watching and have a brilliant time when you visit.
If you’d like to see more of my videos about Edinburgh & Scotland here’s my YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/@DavidWheaterScotland
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David Wheater is a Writer, Guide, Photographer & Filmmaker living and working in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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