← Back🌱 Urban park

River Esk Park

7 ha

📷 Dr Neil Clifton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

FamilyPlayBirds

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome7 ha

Getting here

55.94109, -3.05679

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

▾

🐦92+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Wigeon and Oystercatcher
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕Elena Di Rollo — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦92+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Wigeon and Oystercatcher
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕Elena Di Rollo — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Best for

11 activities

Family friendly

Very strong match

Free

playground, café, toilets; Urban park — family destination

Playgrounds

Very strong match

Free

playground, toilets, café, parking

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull +89 more · last seen 2026

Picnic day out

Strong match

Free

café, toilets, car park; Urban park — open green space

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull +89 more · last seen 2026

Dog walks

Strong match

Free

Dogs allowed with public access

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

▾

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Innocent RailwayWalking route▾

Named routeRef CEC5

Core PathsWalking route▾

East Lothian Core Path Network

Named routeLocal walking route

John Muir Way (Edinburgh to Prestonpans)Walking route15.8 km▾

Named routeRef JMWLength 15.8 kmPoint-to-pointNational walking route

John Muir Way (Prestonpans to North Berwick)Walking route25 km▾

Named routeRef JMWLength 25 kmPoint-to-pointNational walking route

North Esk WayWalking route▾

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

▾

69 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route RRCycling route▾

Named routeRef RRLocal cycle route

Quiet Route 10Cycling route▾

Named routeRef 10Local cycle route

NCN National Route 76Cycling route▾

Named routeRef 76Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network

NCN National Route 196Cycling route▾

Named routeRef 196National Cycle Network

John Muir WayCycling route215 km▾

Named routeRef JMWLength 215 kmPoint-to-pointRegional cycle route

Dalkeith to Edinburgh via GilmertonCycling route▾

Named routeLocal cycle route

🚵

Mountain biking

▾

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Capital TrailMountain bike route▾

Named route

Wildlife to spot

215,762 records from NBN Atlas

▾

Wildlife to spot

215,762 records · NBN Atlas

🐦

Birds92 species

winter

2026

Wigeon · Oystercatcher · Black-headed Gull · Mallard · Mute Swan

+87 more species

All 92 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)

WigeonMareca penelope
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Herring GullLarus argentatus
GadwallMareca strepera
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
RedshankTringa totanus
Common GullLarus canus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
CurlewNumenius arquata
JackdawColoeus monedula
MagpiePica pica
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
TealAnas crecca
CootFulica atra
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Greylag GooseAnser anser
GoosanderMergus merganser
LapwingVanellus vanellus
EiderSomateria mollissima
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
House SparrowPasser domesticus
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
ShagGulosus aristotelis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Rock DoveColumba livia
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2025
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
DunlinCalidris alpina
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
RazorbillAlca torda2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
Barn OwlTyto alba
NuthatchSitta europaea
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2025
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Great TitParus major2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Anser anser x Branta canadensisAnser anser x Branta canadensis
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans2025
SanderlingCalidris alba2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025

🦌

Mammals3 species

winter

2026

Roe Deer · Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

🐝

Insects3 species

spring

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

215,762 records · NBN Atlas

🐦

Birds92 species

winter

2026

Wigeon · Oystercatcher · Black-headed Gull · Mallard · Mute Swan

+87 more species

All 92 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)

WigeonMareca penelope
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Herring GullLarus argentatus
GadwallMareca strepera
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
RedshankTringa totanus
Common GullLarus canus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
TwiteLinaria flavirostris
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
CurlewNumenius arquata
JackdawColoeus monedula
MagpiePica pica
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
TealAnas crecca
CootFulica atra
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Greylag GooseAnser anser
GoosanderMergus merganser
LapwingVanellus vanellus
EiderSomateria mollissima
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
House SparrowPasser domesticus
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
ShagGulosus aristotelis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
Rock DoveColumba livia
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2025
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
DunlinCalidris alpina
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
RazorbillAlca torda2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2025
KnotCalidris canutus2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
Barn OwlTyto alba
NuthatchSitta europaea
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2025
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Great TitParus major2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Anser anser x Branta canadensisAnser anser x Branta canadensis
Common GuillemotUria aalge
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans2025
SanderlingCalidris alba2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Great Northern DiverGavia immer2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025

🦌

Mammals3 species

winter

2026

Roe Deer · Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

🐝

Insects3 species

spring

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

21 photos from nearby open sources

▾

📷 Dr Neil Clifton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Musselburgh: River Esk

1 / 21

Photos

📷 Dr Neil Clifton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Musselburgh: River Esk

1 / 21

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Facilities

☕

Café

Elena Di Rollo · 299m

🅿️

Parking

10 nearby · Paid · 59m

🛝

Playground

3 · 219m away

🚻

Toilets

297m away

✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Fisherrow Links ParkUrban park700 m→🌱Newhailes House & GardensUrban park1.3 km→🌱Jewel ParkUrban park4 km→🌱Brighton ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Brighton ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Hunters Hall ParkUrban park4 km→