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Paterson's Land Quad (Holyrood) to George Square (via Potterrow)

The University of Edinburgh, Holyrood, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ

Access Guide

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Route Overview

  • The start point for this guide is Paterson's Land Courtyard.
  • The end point for this guide is George Square.
  • The average walking time between the start and end points is 19 minutes.
  • This guide covers St John's Street, Holyrood Road, Pleasance, Drummond Street, South Bridge, South College Street, Potterow Port and Bristo Square.
  • Points of interest in this area include: Charteris Land, St Leonard's Land, O'Shea South, O'Shea North, Old College, Talbot Rice Gallery, School of Geosciences, Drummond Street Annexe, Potterow Chaplaincy, Edinburgh University Student Association Potterow, Richard Verney Health Centre, McEwan Hall, Teviot House, Dugald Stewart Building.
  • There are no public transport stops or stations in this area.

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Starting Point - Paterson's Land Quad (Holyrood)

  • The Quad near Paterson's Land contains the main entrance into Paterson's Land and entrances into Thomson's Land, Old Moray House, Dalhousie Land and Holyrood Campus Reception - Old Nursery.
  • There are benches and tables available in the Quad.
  • There are some uneven surfaces in the Quad.

Exit Paterson's Land Quad onto St John's Street

  • The surface of the Quad is block paving.
  • There is a slight slope going up towards the road.

St John's Street to Holyrood Road

  • Turn left on reaching St John's Street for approximately 100m until you reach Holyrood Road.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a slight gradient going down towards Holyrood Road.
  • The pavement also has a slight gradient heading down towards the road.
  • On the opposite side of St John's Street is located Charteris Land.
  • When you reach Holyrood Road you will see St Leonard's Land on its far side.

Cross St John's Street

  • Turn right upon reaching Holyrood Road and cross St John's Street.
  • There is tactile block paving on either side of St John's Street.
  • The crossing is at the same level as the pavement.
  • The surface of the road is block paving with manhole covers in the middle of the road.

Holyrood Road to Pleasance

  • After crossing St John's Street head up Holyrood Road for approximately 200m.
  • There is a slight gradient along the road to reach Pleasance.
  • The surface of the road is block paving. Though there are some cobbled patches to the right of the street but these can be easily ignored.
  • As you continue, there is a section of tactile paving for a crossing across Holyrood Road. Continue along Holyrood Road.
  • As you continue you will pass approach routes from Holyrood Road into O'Shea North. On the opposite side of the road you will pass Holyrood South.
  • There is a bus stop for Viewcraig Gardens as you continue along Holyrood Road.
  • Once you have passed the Outreach Centre the width of the pavement reduces to only 115cm.
  • There are then two service roads. One into the Holyrood O'Shea North Residences and one into Gullan's Close.
  • The first consists of brick block pavement and the second is cobbled. These are level with the rest of the pavement.
  • After this there is a small slope of tactile paving with a manhole cover in the centre after the second service road.
  • Continue until you reach the pedestrian crossing.

Cross Holyrood Road and Pleasance

  • Cross Holyrood Road to reach a central island then turn right and cross the road to reach Pleasance.
  • On approaching the crossing, there is a traffic light pole in the pavement providing a width of 95cm
  • The traffic lights have rotating cones.
  • There is then a steep tactile paved dropped kerb onto Holyrood Road which has a tarmac surface.
  • This part of the crossing was closed due to roadworks at the time of survey.
  • The central island has a tactile kerb which is level with the road.
  • There is then a central island, the surface of which is tactile block paving.
  • Once here, turn right and use the pedestrian crossing to reach Pleasance.
  • The tarmac of the road crossing to reach Pleasance is level with the island.
  • As you cross the road there is a slight slope to reach Pleasance where there is a tactile dropped kerb.
    .

Pleasance to Drummond Street

  • Turn upon crossing Pleasance and continue up the road until you reach Drummond Street.
  • The distance is approximately 105m. The gradient of the hill here starts slight but increases to become steep.
  • The surface of the pavement is block paving with the occasional manhole cover.
  • Just before you reach Drummond Street the surface of the road becomes tarmac.

Drummond Street to South Bridge

  • Head up Drummond Street until you reach South Bridge; a distance of approximately 250m.
  • Turn right so you head up Drummond Street next to the Flodden Wall.
  • As you turn right the right the surface of the pavement is block paving.
  • You will then need to turn left where the surface of the road becomes concrete for approximately 5m with manhole covers.
  • After this, the surface of the road is concrete with the occasional manhole cover. There is a steep slope up the hill.
  • There is a service road into the School of GeoSciences Institute of Geography.
  • The surface of the road is cobbled with manhole covers. There are dropped kerbs on either side.
  • After the service road there is a portion of the pavement which is uneven block paving for about 10m.
  • The surface of the pavement then returns to being concrete.
  • As you continue there is a service road which you will need to proceed over. It has a slope downwards towards Drummond Street but is otherwise level with the pavement.
  • As you do so, the gradient over the pavement changes so there is only a gentle downhill slope.
  • As you approach the end of Drummond Street the surface of the pavement becomes block paving with the occasional manhole cover.
    .

South Bridge to South Bridge Crossing

  • Turn right and head down South Bridge for 65m until you reach the pelican crossing across South Bridge.
  • There is tactile paving to the left of the pavement as you turn right for a crossing across Drummond Street. Ignore this and turn right.
  • The south of the road is block paving with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a slight slope heading towards the pelican crossing.

South Bridge Crossing

  • Cross South Bridge at the pelican crossing and then turn left for approximately 65m until you reach South College Street.
  • There are traffic lights located here.
  • There are rotating cones at the pelican crossing.
  • There is no audible signal at the pelican crossing.
  • There are tactile dropped kerbs on either side of the road.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac.
  • South Bridge is a busy road with plenty of traffic.

South Bridge to South College Street

  • Turn left up South Bridge for approximately 65m.
  • The surface of pavement is block paved.
  • There is a slight uphill gradient up the pavement.
  • There is a service road into Old College which leads to three of its entrances via either ramps and slopes including a steep slope or a steep slope and steps.
  • The surface of the service road is cobbled.
  • There is a 4cm incline on the other side of the surface road to get back on the pavement.
  • Then continue on until you reach South College Street.

West College Street to Potterrow Port

  • This section heads east south from West College Street through the Potterrow Port underpass, covering a distance of approximately 50 metres.
  • Having crossed West College Street, turn left and go straight ahead into the underpass, clearly signed "Potterrow Port"
  • There is step-free access along this section of the route, with level access on the approach to Potterrow Port, and then a slight ramp heading downhill through the Potterrow Port underpass itself.
  • This section of the route is entirely pedestrianised, and the surface is comprised of tarmac, block paving, concrete paving stabs and some cobbles. It is uneven in places.
  • There are some street trees in the vicinity, but they are well away from the main pathway.
  • As you emerge from the underpass, turn right.

Potterrow Port to Bristo Square

  • This section heads southwest out of Potterrow Port towards Bristo Square, covering a distance of approximately 70 metres.
  • Head up the ramp leading up from the Potterrow Port underpass, which curves to the left and brings you back up to street level. Then go straight ahead, skirting the outside of the Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow building to your left, passing through the bollards into Bristo Square.
  • This section of the route is pedestrianised.
  • The ramp out of Potterrow Port has a steep gradient, with a central handrail and a minimum width of 110cm. The surface is concrete paving slabs.
  • At the top of the ramp, there are bollards with a low colour contrast and a minimum width of 124cm upon entering Bristo Square. The route then begins to slope slightly downhill, and the surface becomes a mixture of tarmac and concrete paving slabs.
  • There are street lamps, bollards, bike racks, litter bins and street trees in the area, all of which could pose an obstruction.
  • Bench seating is available in Bristo Square, and the area is likely to be crowded with heavy footfall. You are now entering University of Edinburgh land, and wayfinding maps and signage are provided.

Bristo Square to George Square

  • This section heads south through Bristo Square, along Charles Street and into George Square at the north-eastern corner, covering a distance of approximately 170 metres.
  • Go straight ahead through Bristo Square, keeping close to the buildings on your left. Leave the square at its south-eastern corner, heading along Charles Street. Continue straight ahead until Charles Street meets Crichton Street; this intersection is at the north-east corner of George Square, which is the end of the route.
  • This section of the route is pedestrianised until around halfway along Charles Street, between Bristo Square and George Square. The surface through Bristo Square consists of tarmac and concrete and stone paving slabs; along Charles Street it is block paving and stone paving slabs. All surfaces are smooth and even throughout.
  • There is a slight downhill slope through Bristo Square, which gradually levels out to become very slight along the initial portion of Charles Street, and level by the end of the route as you approach George Square.
  • There are street lamps, bollards, bike racks, litter bins and street trees in the area, all of which could pose an obstruction.
  • Bench seating is available in Bristo Square, and the area is likely to be crowded with heavy footfall. Wayfinding maps and signage are provided.
  • At the time of survey (March 2025), building works were taking place in the area, narrowing the pedestrian walkway along Charles Street.

Finishing Point (George Square)

  • George Square is at the heart of the University of Edinburgh Central Campus, and is the location of several key university buildings and services, including the Main Library, Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, Business School, 40 George Square, 50 George Square, Hugh Robson Building and Chrystal Macmillan Building. There is a park and garden in the centre of the square, and on-street standard and Blue Badge parking is available here. There is vehicular access to the north, east and west sides of the square, while the south side is fully pedestrianised.