Barnton Bunker - Edinburgh's Nuclear Bunker

 The day before going on our recent holiday to Dumfries and Galloway we visited Barnton Bunker, Edinburgh's Nuclear Bunker, that is currently being restored and reimagined as an arts venue. We were there for a programme of 'films set in bunkers' with a guided tour of the bunker taking place in between the films. The films were Day of the Dead and a 70s horror film set in the London Underground that I think was called Deathline, though a different title showed up at the beginning of the film. I wasn't there for the films to be honest, too gory for me, though I sort of enjoyed them. I was there for the guided tour of the bunker, which is a fascinating place, with a central area which has the most amazing acoustics, and which will become a wonderful concert venue. Our photos didn't turn out great, because the venue is so dark, but here are a few to give you an idea of the interior of the bunker. The photo below shows the BBC Radio room which will be used as a recording studio in the future

 Here's the entrance tunnel 

 Here's part of the area that's being developed as a museum of the Cold War 

 and my partner holding one of the books on display 

and here's one of the offices

The charity looking after the bunker is developing a community garden, which was opened with a public event earlier today, which I had intended to go along to with a friend, who sadly had to cancel, and I didn't feel like going along by myself. You can see some photos of the outdoor area around the bunker (and the unexpected residents!) on my Crafty Green Poet blog here. 

The desk where Robert Burns wrote

We spent much of last week in Dumfries and Galloway in the south-west of Scotland. We've visited this area many times, but there are still new places to explore. Ellisland Farm was the home for Robert Burns for just a few years from 1788, but was the place where he wrote many of his most famous pieces including Tam O'Shanter. It's a very impressive museum, with plans to extend and develop it to preserve the built heritage and to further celebrate the legacy of Robert Burns. 

Here is the desk where Burns sat to write much of his work 

while the kitchen is preserved much as it would have been back in Burns' day, including with a cookery book open at a page with a recipe for curry!  

Entry to the museum costs £6.00 and includes an introductory talk and a video, after which you're left to your own devices to explore. You can join the Ellisland Trust for £20, which gives you free entry to the museum and other benefits. 

You can see more photos from Ellisland on my Crafty Green Poet blog.