An Edinburgh Student's Autumn Bucket List: Poisonous Mushrooms and Open Fire

I must admit that this list has been written much more for me than for you. Autumn is my favourite season, and I had always looked forward to spending it at university, a place perfectly crafted for rainy days in and a delightful melancholy. But with Freshers’ last year, I was preoccupied with all the chaos, and now, with a somewhat steadier life, I want to throw myself into the seasons of crispy leaves, new beginnings and a quiet comforting decay with full force. Hopefully you will too.

Outdoorsy Stuff

One of the more intriguing societies at university is the foraging society. Imagine us in our raincoats, tupperware in hand, picking little mushrooms from the damp soil or little berries from a bush. If you've also wanted to live out your forest fairy dreams, then a foraging day out might just be for you. Some places to start are the Braid Hills (I took a walk here and picked some blackberries that squished and stained my pocket), Corstorphine hill, or Holyrood Park. Admittedly, I'm no expert forager, but what I do know is you maybe shouldn't be eating random mushrooms you find on a Tuesday afternoon, or decimating the local greenery. If you want some guidance or to meet other forest fairies disguised as humans, I would join your university's foraging society if you have one. There are also other groups open to the public around Edinburgh that can take you on guided walks and prevent you from poisoning yourself. By the end of it you might just be able to cook up some new soups and sauces, or just have a wider knowledge and appreciation for the world around you. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/foraginginedinburgh/)

An event that is much easier to organise than you would think is doing your own bonfire at Portobello. Although you could wait for one of the many that will be happening in the semester, you could also have an intimate gathering of whoever you choose. All you need is some logs, kindling, fire starter and some matches.

With the night approaching much quicker than it did in summer, stargazing becomes an appealing option. You could go to the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, where they host astronomy talks and events. But if you wish to make a great escape somewhere with less light pollution, then Dunfermline Public Park, which is designated as a Dark Sky Discovery Site, is a great choice. There are many places you could travel to in Scotland to stargaze, however, if you'd like to keep it closer to home, just take a trek up the usual suspects of Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat with a blanket, snacks, and a group of your pals.

And now here are some honourable mentions that don't require much elaboration: pony trekking through the Pentlands (https://www.exmoorponytrekking.co.uk/), archery for a medieval feel, clay pigeon shooting (please don't go shooting actual pigeons), and deer spotting.

Spooky Stuff

If you want something Celtic but modernised and quite spiritual, go and get whisked away by the Samhuinn Fire Festival on the night of Halloween. The Beltane Fire Society will be hosting the event on Calton Hill, with performances, drumming and a lot of fire. The artist who designed the poster for the event also did the design for the Beltane festival. I had the joy of speaking to her during the West End fair and buying one of her prints. (https://www.lucywillswright.com/)

This is how I found out about the festival, so if you want to make the most of Edinburgh in whatever season just talk to whoever piques your curiosity, and you'll find out how interconnected the city is, and how full of… stuff it is

When my friend came to visit me, we went on not only a ghost tour but the Edinburgh Dungeon experience, so if you wish to embrace some horror or plain quirky theatrics, book your tickets. The next on my personal list is the Ghost Bus tour and honestly if I'm starving for some gothic, spooky entertainment our city is brimming with tours, workshops and storytelling about anything from ghouls to witches.

Food Stuff

Autumnal foods are warm, comforting and make you feel like a hobbit straight out of The Lord of the Rings. I'm sure you don't need much convincing to try out some of these, but if you need an excuse, host a dinner for your friends. It could be a flat-warming, game night, or just a cute dinner by candlelight. Imagine this—a creamy butternut squash soup as a starter, scooped up with mismatched spoons from your questionable kitchen drawers, a perfectly baked shepherd’s pie, with the mashed potato on top golden in the heat of your oven, and for dessert an apple crumble or blackberry pie, warm and sugary with a scoop of ice cream at the side. I've convinced you, haven't I? (Please invite me.) If you want to make this nerdier you could do a movie marathon where you make the foods from the films and enjoy them in tandem. I personally will be forcing my flatmates to make midnight margaritas from Practical Magic with me—not only a perfect autumn film but great timing with the second film's release due this September.

I know I'm not the only one quivering in fear at the impending doom of fresher's flu, so I've got an activity that can not only help with the constant sore throat you're about to have, but also make your flat smell amazing. Make a simmer pot. Put a pot on the stove with some water and add orange or lemon slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary, and let it simmer for as long as you see fit. Breathing in the fumes will hopefully make it easier to breathe and it's just a wonderfully cosy smell in general.

Crafty Stuff

Crafty stuff is usually something that becomes a chore when things start to heat up at uni. However, picking up a couple of things just to add to the whimsy in your life or decorate your flat might just be worth the effort. Pressing leaves and flowers is great when things are constantly falling off of trees and hitting you on the head on your way to class, almost as an act of revenge whilst preserving nature. You could make some bookmarks, framed art, resin pieces, or keep it in a scrapbook. There has been a resurgence of knitting and crocheting recently, and you might want to tackle a scarf (that absolutely will not get finished, but hey ho), which could become part of your frazzled English woman aesthetic if that floats your boat.

Conclusion

Before I conclude, I'll give some honourable mentions since I'm so greedy for the season: a Thanksgiving (even if you aren't American it's just another excuse for a dinner party), watching Over the Garden Wall, and maybe a ceilidh or two if you feel like dancing. If you can't tell I am buzzing with excitement I might as well be a suburban mum in America about to order a pumpkin spice latte. After giving you a long list of autumn activities, I will wish you a reflective, adventurous, and at least a curious autumn, and who knows maybe I'll run into you at a pony trek or a foraging expedition.

Written by Rebecca Clucas.

Edited by Abby Johnston-Jones.