Walks

All our walks are easy to follow on way marked trails and offer a route from the gentle stroll to the rough and tumble of a more challenging expedition. Enjoy a pleasant 20min meander or a 2 hour hike.

The Bluebell Walk


Meandering through a carpet of blue in the Spring is an unforgetable experience. This walk winds its way through a woodland of Spanish Chestnut and Beech. The forest floor is carpeted with bluebells, wild garlic and primroses, and is a fantastic site in the Spring time. The path leads along the side of the river and up towards the King’s Park fields. Look around you and you can see the remnants of the old parkland tree planting in the Monkey Puzzles and Giant Sequoias. The path finishes at the cross roads and on your right you can see a magnificent Spanish Chestnut, planted by George IV in 1822.

The Ancient Oaks Walk


Walk in the footsteps of Romans, Oliver Cromwell, Queen Victoria. Ancient Oaks over 1,000 years old have many tales to tell. This is a more challenging walk, leading us through this unique forest of Oaks - perhaps one of the oldest in Scotland. Under these same trees, walked historical figures, ranging from the Druids to Oliver Cromwell. The path leads down to the confluence of the two rivers, North and South Esk. Look at the clarity of these waters. Notice the North Esk, which comes from coal bearing origins, is much murkier than the South Esk. This is a favourite haunt for deer, foxes and otters. The field sometimes has cows in it, so better not to cross with a dog, or a push chair.

The King’s Gate Walk



Established for George the IV's visit, the King's Drive runs in a sweeping arcd through acres of woods. This, the longest walk, takes us through sycamore and larch plantations to the King’s Gates, a beautiful set of gates, which came from Belgium via Holland Park in London. The Gate House, one of five in the estate, and by far the grandest, was built just before Queen Victoria’s visit here in 1875. It was accessed from the Edinburgh road and Dalkieth Station. Try to imagine this walk without the commercial trees bordering the path, and instead visualise a formal avenue of stately beeches all the way to the Palace, across the magnificent Montagu Bridge.

Riverside Walk

The banks of both rivers are home for all sorts from owls to otters.