Glade
← Back

🌱 Urban park

Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells

✦ Ancient woodland166 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome166 ha

Best for

11 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Magpie, Robin, Blackbird +50 more · last seen 2026

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Magpie, Robin, Blackbird +50 more · last seen 2026; Ancient woodland

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird +49 more · last seen 2026

Dog walks

Strong match

Free

Dogs allowed with public access

Mountain biking

Good match

Varies

Named MTB route nearby: Great North Trail (Central Belt)

Cycling

Good match

Varies

Named cycling route nearby: Route 75

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

16 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
The Royal MileWalking route
Named route
Innocent RailwayWalking route
Named routeRef CEC5
Forth & Clyde/Union Canal TowpathWalking route106 km
Named routeLength 106 kmNational walking route
Pentland Way (Glencorse Reservoir to Swanston)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Water of Leith Walkway (Slateford to Leith)Walking route
Named routeRef CEC18Local walking route
🚴

Cycling

154 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route RRCycling route
Named routeRef RRLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 754Cycling route
Named routeRef 754National Cycle Network
Quiet Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6Local cycle route
Quiet Route 9Cycling route
Named routeRef 9Local cycle route
Quiet Route 11Cycling route
Named routeRef 11Local cycle route
Greenbank to Meadows Quiet RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Dreghorn-CastlelawMountain bike route
Named route
Bonaly - Glencorse off road cycle routeMountain bike route
Named route
Harlaw-GlencorseMountain bike route
Named route
Great North Trail (Central Belt)Mountain bike route83.7 km
Named routeLength 83.7 kmNational Cycle Network
Pentland Reservoirs MTBMountain bike route
Named route
Capital TrailMountain bike route
Named route

About this urban park

Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells is an ancient urban park covering 166 hectares. As an ancient woodland, it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD — a rare and irreplaceable habitat rich in biodiversity and historical character.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

15 photos from nearby open sources

1 / 15

Visiting this spring

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌸Ancient woodlands are famous for bluebell carpets in April and May — one of Britain's most spectacular wildflower displays
  • 🐦Prime nesting season — listen for woodpecker drumming, warbler song and the first cuckoos from April
  • 🦌Roe deer are active before the leaf canopy closes in — dawn and dusk are best

Facilities

🧺

Picnic spot

68m away

✦ Ancient✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km