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Hutton in Edinburgh

 
Katie L Review by Katie L 4 Published: 16 Aug 2025 Meeting point at entrance of Holyrood Park, Holyrood Park Road Show Dates: 16 Aug 2025-25 Aug 2025

Edinburgh has a rich history – and an even richer natural world to observe. That’s the focal point of Hutton in Edinburgh. Using James Hutton’s ideas on nature and the evolution of the Earth, this walking tour invites people to see the city through an entirely new lens.

This tour made me stop and really think about... how beautiful Edinburgh truly is.

Hosted by Angus Miller, the tour takes us on a journey through Edinburgh’s landscape, exploring how Hutton saw the world hundreds of years ago. But it’s not just Miller who leads the way – James Hutton and his sister Isabel also join the tour. Through actors and an original script, the pair are brought vividly back to life. It’s a great way to share information while blending storytelling with immersive theatre. I was pleasantly surprised when we turned a corner and found two actors in period costume recounting their life stories.

The walking tour itself is peaceful and slow-paced – perfect for those who want a gentle stroll through nature, mixed with history and a chance to learn more about geology and the Earth. It’s easy to take the landscape around us for granted as something that’s just there, but this tour made me stop and really think about what Arthur’s Seat means in a geological context – and how beautiful Edinburgh truly is.

This is a tour led by people who have a clear passion for Edinburgh’s natural history. As someone with little background in Hutton, science or geology, I never felt lost or confused. Occasionally, the script felt a little clunky – but I always had a smile on my face whenever the actors playing James and Isabel appeared.

This is a tour worth doing. It’s a calm, engaging walk in a peaceful part of the city, offering a moment to breathe amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. Hutton in Edinburgh is easy to follow and an easy way to learn something new.

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Step back to the 1700s and walk through Edinburgh’s landscape with philosopher James Hutton and his famous Scottish Enlightenment companions, exploring Hutton’s theory of a dynamic Earth. Born in Edinburgh in 1726, Hutton saw how the Earth developed over a vast time scale. We now know this as deep time. With interests in agriculture, chemistry, medicine and natural science, Hutton is regarded as the founder of modern geology. His ideas influenced Darwin’s theory of evolution. From the creators of Darwin in Edinburgh, join theatre maker Jane Westhead and geologist Angus Miller in this engaging walking theatre show.