*SPECTATOR VIEWING POINTS*

EDINBURGH RIDING OF THE MARCHES 2026

Sunday 13th September

ALL WELCOME!

The day includes 3 aspects:

1. Horses

2. Edinburgh People’s Procession

3. Royal Mile Entertainment

Horses.

We have nearly 300 riders on horseback taking part on the day. These riders come predominantly from the 29 Riding Towns of Scotland, as well as other riders from around Scotland, the rest of the UK, visiting overseas riders and Scotland’s Cavalry Regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in ceremonial capacity. These riders set off in the morning at 9.30am, following a designated route, stopping for a break/lunch between 12.15pm – 1.35pm and start riding up from the bottom of the Royal Mile from 3.40pm, arriving at the Mercat Cross for the Ceremony at approximately 3.55pm.

PLEASE NOTE that all timings are approximate and there may be slight changes due to weather conditions or other issues out with our control.

Spectators are requested not to venture into fields on the ride route and must at all times follow directions of ground marshals and observe parking regulations where they are in existence.  Please take care not to impede the progress of the ride and support vehicles.

Due to the closure of the section of Duddingston Low Road, we sadly are unable to bring horses through Duddingston Village. Please see below for alternative viewing points.

These are the suggested viewing points for seeing the horses go by:

• The ride commences from ‘The Caravan Park’ 642 Old Dalkeith Rd, EH16 4SL within the Drum Estate. Pease note that only equine vehicles may park within ‘The Caravan Park’.
• 9.30am sharp – The ride will commence.
• 9.30am – 9.50am Drum Estate canters can be viewed from Gilmerton Road near to Bernard Hunter’s Yard.
• 9.52am – 10am the horses will travel west along Gilmerton Station Road
• 10am – 10.20am you can view the horses riding north along Lasswade Road
• 10.20am – 10.25am The ride will proceed west along Captains Road. This is a good opportunity to view the full cavalcade.
• 10.25am you will be able to see the ride passing the Kaimes Junction, turning north on to Howdenhall Road
• 10.40am – 10.50am you will be able to watch the horses come down behind the Stables Bar at Mortonhall. Be sure to pop in for some food and drink! The viewing point is up behind the buildings – there are 2 areas you will be permitted to stand – use the What3Words App to see these locations: ///vest.units.audit (https://w3w.co/vest.units.audit) and ///amused.pushes.causes (https://w3w.co/amused.pushes.causes)
• The ride will enter Mortonhall estate at 11am and will exit at 11.25am. Canters here can be viewed from the cottages at Broomhills Road within the estate. **Please do not stand in the fields, but remain on Broomhills Road only. Please do not block entrances or exits.**
• 11.25am you will be able to see the full cavalcade returning back across Kaimes Junction and heading east along Captains Road towards Lasswade Road.
• 12.00pm – 12.15pm Final Drum Estate Canters can be viewed from within the Drum Estate.
• 12.15pm – 1.35pm The lunch stop will take place at ‘The Caravan Park’, at the conclusion of which, the ride will make its way out of the Drum onto Old Dalkeith Road.
• It should also be noted that if spectators wish to see the ride in the Royal Mile, they should consider making their way there around this stage.
• 1.35pm – 1.45pm you will be able to see the whole ride passing the Old Mercat Cross next to Drum RDA within Drum Estate, heading east.
• 2.05pm – 2.09pm the ride will pass along Ferniehill Road, turning right on to Moredun Park Road
• 2.15pm the ride will turn and ride up the full length of Craigour Avenue, then left on to Craigour Drive.
• 2.26pm the ride will turn right on to Moredunvale Road towards Old Dalkeith Road
• 2.27pm the ride will turn left on to Old Dalkeith Road, heading north towards Craigmillar Castle Road
• 2.32pm the ride will turn into Craigmillar Castle Road and into Craigmillar Castle Park. Please do not stand on the road or block the road. Please note that vehicles cannot stop on Craigmillar Castle Road. You can enter the park on foot, but must be in place well before the horses arrive.
• 2.33pm – 2.40pm the ride will ride through Craigmillar Castle Park. Please note that the horses may be going at a fast pace and spectators must remain at a safe distance. Dogs must be on leads. This should be an excellent spectator vantage point!
• 3pm the ride can be seen passing Niddrie Mains Road junction and crossing Duddingston Road West
• 3.15pm ride can be seen at the small roundabout within Holyrood Park at Rose Drive, where it will travel down Queen’s Drive within Holyrood Park.
• 3.15pm George Watsons Pipe Band will form up at the Broad Pavement car park, Holyrood Park to await the cavalcade of horses.
• 3.24pm The ride will approach Holyrood Park Road roundabout within Holyrood Park
• 3.40pm The ride will fall in behind George Watsons
• 3.45pm – 3.55pm The Cavalcade takes place up the Royal Mile from Holyrood to the Mercat Cross.
• 3.56pm The Cavalcade comes to a halt at the Mercat Cross and the Captain and Lass take part in the return of the flag ceremony before the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the assembled riders and spectators.  This ceremony should take approximately thirty minutes before the ride starts off again, passing behind St Giles’s Cathedral and returns back down the Royal Mile, to finish at Queen’s Drive at approximately 5pm.

Edinburgh People’s Procession.

A brilliant addition to the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches, the Edinburgh People’s Procession is a living tribute to the people who have shaped Edinburgh across the centuries and those who continue to make our city thrive today.

We will be welcoming groups from across the city, including schools, charities, community organisations, volunteers, cultural groups, musicians, dancers and performers. From surgeons to sporting institutions, bus drivers to paramedics, school pupils to military veterans, the People’s Procession showcases the people who make Edinburgh the remarkable city it is today.

The People’s Procession will start at Holyrood at 2.30pm and make its way up the Royal Mile to St Giles’s Cathedral for 3pm. It promises to bring music, dance, colour, costumes and noise to the cobbled street, so do come along and cheer the Procession on! You can see who will be taking part in the People’s Procession here.

Royal Mile Entertainment.

12.30pm onwards. Once again we are bringing fantastic entertainment to the crowds, from stunt teams, to pipe bands, to a world record-breaking ceilidh attempt and much more, so bring your whole family (and your dancing shoes!). Entertainment takes place within the event arena (between Cockburn Street and Lawnmarket) and is FREE to watch! You can see who is performing this year here.

See you there! Slàinte!