Best walking & hiking trails in Edinburgh
With its compact scale, hills and fantastic vistas, Edinburgh is a great city to walk in. whether it’s the shorefront at Leith or Portobello, the Old Town or grand Georgian streets of the New Town, there are plenty of amazing places to walk.
Let's go through the top places to walk your dog in the Scottish capital, all within an easy drive from us at Seton Sands.
Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags
The remains of an ancient volcano and a tilted plain of dolerite formed these twin wonders which tower over the city to the north. Both are accessible to dog walkers, with Arthur’s Seat proving the more challenging climb.
Dogs can be let off the leash if they are well-behaved, and the views from the top of both slopes are stunning. There’s a large meadow on the gradual slope of Salisbury Crags suitable for throwing a ball around but beware of the cliffs – they are 174 metres high in places.
Inverleith Park
If you’re in the north of the city then do go for a wander in Inverleith Park. You’ll want to keep your pet on a lead, however, as there are usually quite a few swans and geese on the ornamental pond. Alternatively, walk down to the Water of Leith via Arboretum Avenue and follow the footpath in either direction along the water’s edge.
There’s plenty of space in the park for a picnic but not too many facilities, so do plan your visit accordingly.
Bonaly Park
Head from Colinton up to Bonaly Country Park, a beautiful, hilly section of the Pentland Hills which contains several reservoirs and wooded walks. In the lower sections, animals can run free. Above the treeline, there are sheep, so it may be wise to re-attach your lead.
The views from Bonaly Park are spectacular – on a clear day you can see over the First to Fife and beyond. Watch out for skittish roe deer and waterfowl on the reservoirs. There’s a free car park at Bonaly, which saves you walking some of the steeper sections.
Water of Leith Walkway
Edinburgh’s 'secret’ river is the 35km-long Water of Leith which flows from the Pentland Hills to the sea at Leith. Much of its length contains a walkway, and all is accessible to dog-walkers, with their animals on a lead.
There are often bins to help you tidy up after your animal and stretches out to the west, particularly between Colinton and Balerno, where you can take your pet off the lead for a run or plouter (Scots slang for dabbling in a stream!)
Blackford Hill
Blackford Hill and the adjacent Hermitage of Braid, offer other magnificent 360° views, particularly of Arthur’s Seat to the northwest. Park in the small car park on Observatory Road, where there are a small cluster of buildings devoted to science and scientific history. Walk up to the top of the hill, or down into the woods.
It should be fine to let your pet roam free here while you explore the unusual architectural and historic features, such as the site of a prehistoric hill fort and the Braid Ice House, an 18th-century stone-walled cold store.
Union Canal
As well as the Water of Leith winding through its centre, Edinburgh is the easternmost destination of the Union Canal, which links the city over 31 miles to Falkirk in the west (then via a different canal to Glasgow). Most of its length contains a picturesque waterway dotted with occasional open spaces, attractive buildings, and churches.
The stretch from Polwarth west to the Slateford Aqueduct is the most picturesque, although expect to share the path with cyclists, walkers, and runners, so keep your dog on a short lead.
Dean Village Walk
Once a thriving mill community, the Dean Village is a beautifully preserved area of cobbled lanes, bridges and weirs. Walk from here along the river path towards the Scottish Galleries of Modern Art at Belford Road. Look out for kingfishers and even river otters as you wander.
The river path continues, in various guises, for 22 miles in total, so plan your public transport in case your feet lead you too far!
Calton Hill and the New Town
One of the best city centre views can be obtained from Calton Hill to the east of the New Town. Enter via the steps on Regent Road and wander up past the iconic Dugald Stewart monument.
The famously never-finished ‘nation’s shame’ monument to the Napoleonic Wars, can be found here too with its arc of Doric columns.
The Royal Mile
As its name suggests, the Royal Mile spans a little over a modern mile between the Castle to the west and the Royal Palace of Holyrood to the east. Interestingly, Scots miles were once longer than their English equivalent, resulting in the slightly extended distance.
Castle to Palace is the easier, downhill route and includes many wonderful monuments and buildings including St Giles Cathedral, John Knox’s House, and the Museum of Childhood. It’s a street now very much given over to tourism, so you’ll find several opportunities to purchase whisky and tartan, but you may want to look further afield for bargain souvenirs. There are plenty of great tearooms and pubs on route too, for those all-important rest stops.
Pentland Reservoirs
The Pentland Hills are one of the loveliest stretches of local countryside, lying just southwest of the city and is accessible from the free car park at Bonaly Park, near the Dreghorn interchange of the Edinburgh bypass.
From there, walkers can head up through the trees and over the hill, enjoying wonderful views over the Firth of forth to Fife, to reach Bonaly reservoir, where swimming is permitted (although icy much of the year). If you want a longer walk, you can follow the trail past the reservoir and round to the right of Allermuir Hill to reach Glencorse Reservoir, which has permit fishing and places to picnic.
Start planning your Great British break
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Important information
Brand new holiday homes from £34,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 19 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Church Farm, Cala Gran, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Seashore, Seaview and Thornwick Bay.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £33,995 and will remain at this price until all available stock is sold.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at Berwick, Burnham-on-Sea, Devon Cliffs, Doniford Bay, Hafan y Mor, Kent Coast, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands, Seton Sands and Weymouth Bay.
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at Blue Dolphin, Combe Haven, Caister, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Haggerston Castle, Skegness, The Orchards, Quay West and Wild Duck only until the stock has been sold. Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £29,995 – reduced from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £29,995 until 31 August 2024 at which point it will revert to £33,995. At Far Grange the holiday home price point is reduced from £33,995 and will revert to this price on 31 August 2024.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at – Blue Dolphin, Caister-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Greenacres, Haggerston Castle, The Orchards, Quay West, and Wild Duck
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £19,995
Holiday home price is based on a Bronze Grade pre-owned holiday home 6 years or older and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Cala Gran, Church Farm, Cardigan View, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Orchards, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Riviere Sands, Seashore, Seaview, Skegness and Thornwick Bay.
Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Free 2024 site fees when you buy a Haven holiday home
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 19 April 2024, completing by 31 December 2024.
Offer excludes part-exchanges or private sales. Available on new & pre-owned holiday homes at the following selected parks only: Kent Coast, Burnham-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Orchards, Skegness and Wild Duck.
A credit equivalent to the value of your site fees due during the 2024 season will be applied to your account balance on completion of your purchase for use against your running costs e.g. utilities, after-sale add-ons e.g storage boxes or site fees. It cannot be applied to your purchase or refunded in cash.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Full site fees will be payable for subsequent years.
Images are shown for representational purposes.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.