← Back✦ Historic site

Balm Well

📷 Mike Pennington · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

55.90290, -3.16424

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Parking· Free

Best for

4 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie +64 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie +64 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird +61 more · last seen 2026; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird +61 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

13 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Innocent RailwayWalking route

Named routeRef CEC5

Forth & Clyde/Union Canal TowpathWalking route106 km

Named routeLength 106 kmNational walking route

Core PathsWalking route

East Lothian Core Path Network

Named routeLocal 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

102 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

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Dreghorn-CastlelawMountain bike route

Named route

Bavelaw-FlotterstoneMountain bike route

Named route

Great North Trail (Scottish Borders)Mountain bike route154.8 km

Named routeLength 154.8 kmNational Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

27,108 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

27,108 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds69 species

springsummerwinter

2026

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Magpie · Robin · Carrion Crow +64

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Great TitParus major2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
CootFulica atra2025
EiderSomateria mollissima
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2025
SwanCygnus2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog · Red Fox · Roe Deer · Badger +2

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
BadgerMeles meles
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

spring

2025

Pond Terrapin

Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects64 species

springsummer

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird · Red-legged Shieldbug · Cream-spot Ladybird +59

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2025
Acericerus heydeniiAcericerus heydenii
Small Black AntLasius niger2025
Pinalitus cervinusPinalitus cervinus2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
Dromius quadrimaculatusDromius quadrimaculatus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2025
Chilenocaecilius ornatipennisChilenocaecilius ornatipennis2025
Cantharis lividaCantharis livida2025
St Marks FlyBibio marci2025
Oedemera virescensOedemera virescens2025
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2025
Brown Leaf WeevilPhyllobius oblongus2025
Andrion regensteinenseAndrion regensteinense2025
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
Trioza centranthiTrioza centranthi2025
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2025
Elipsocus hyalinusElipsocus hyalinus2025
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliaePhytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliae2025
Cerobasis guestfalicaCerobasis guestfalica2025
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) populiPhytocoris (Phytocoris) populi2025
Tipula paludosaTipula paludosa2025
Grypotes puncticollisGrypotes puncticollis2025
Blue ShieldbugZicrona caerulea2025
Cheilosia bergenstammiCheilosia bergenstammi2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2025
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Elipsocus abdominalisElipsocus abdominalis2025
Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2025
Salpingus ruficollisSalpingus ruficollis2025
Salpingus planirostrisSalpingus planirostris2025
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2025
Dolichovespula saxonicaDolichovespula saxonica2025
Solomon's-seal SawflyPhymatocera aterrima2025
Garden StiltGracillaria syringella2025
Aphis (Aphis) gossypiiAphis (Aphis) gossypii2025
Eupeodes lunigerEupeodes luniger2025
Rhamphomyia crassirostrisRhamphomyia crassirostris2025
Strawberry-blossom WeevilAnthonomus rubi2025
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2025
Empis tessellataEmpis tessellata2025
Xylota segnisXylota segnis2025
Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2025
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2025
Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2025
Platycheirus clypeatus agg.Platycheirus clypeatus agg.2025
Polydrusus cervinusPolydrusus cervinus2025
Heather BeetleLochmaea suturalis2025
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2025
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

27,108 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds69 species

springsummerwinter

2026

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Magpie · Robin · Carrion Crow +64

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Great TitParus major2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SwiftApus apus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
CootFulica atra2025
EiderSomateria mollissima
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca2025
SwanCygnus2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025

🦌

Mammals7 species

autumn

2025

Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog · Red Fox · Roe Deer · Badger +2

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
BadgerMeles meles
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

spring

2025

Pond Terrapin

Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects64 species

springsummer

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird · Red-legged Shieldbug · Cream-spot Ladybird +59

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus
Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2025
Acericerus heydeniiAcericerus heydenii
Small Black AntLasius niger2025
Pinalitus cervinusPinalitus cervinus2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
Dromius quadrimaculatusDromius quadrimaculatus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2025
Chilenocaecilius ornatipennisChilenocaecilius ornatipennis2025
Cantharis lividaCantharis livida2025
St Marks FlyBibio marci2025
Oedemera virescensOedemera virescens2025
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2025
Brown Leaf WeevilPhyllobius oblongus2025
Andrion regensteinenseAndrion regensteinense2025
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
Trioza centranthiTrioza centranthi2025
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2025
Elipsocus hyalinusElipsocus hyalinus2025
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliaePhytocoris (Phytocoris) tiliae2025
Cerobasis guestfalicaCerobasis guestfalica2025
Phytocoris (Phytocoris) populiPhytocoris (Phytocoris) populi2025
Tipula paludosaTipula paludosa2025
Grypotes puncticollisGrypotes puncticollis2025
Blue ShieldbugZicrona caerulea2025
Cheilosia bergenstammiCheilosia bergenstammi2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2025
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Elipsocus abdominalisElipsocus abdominalis2025
Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2025
Salpingus ruficollisSalpingus ruficollis2025
Salpingus planirostrisSalpingus planirostris2025
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2025
Dolichovespula saxonicaDolichovespula saxonica2025
Solomon's-seal SawflyPhymatocera aterrima2025
Garden StiltGracillaria syringella2025
Aphis (Aphis) gossypiiAphis (Aphis) gossypii2025
Eupeodes lunigerEupeodes luniger2025
Rhamphomyia crassirostrisRhamphomyia crassirostris2025
Strawberry-blossom WeevilAnthonomus rubi2025
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2025
Empis tessellataEmpis tessellata2025
Xylota segnisXylota segnis2025
Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2025
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2025
Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2025
Platycheirus clypeatus agg.Platycheirus clypeatus agg.2025
Polydrusus cervinusPolydrusus cervinus2025
Heather BeetleLochmaea suturalis2025
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2025
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Mike Pennington · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

St Catherine's Well, Liberton, Edinburgh

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🌱The MeadowsUrban park4.6 km→🌱Craigmillar Castle ParkUrban park2.9 km→🌱The FieldUrban park4.6 km→🌱Seven Acre ParkUrban park800 m→🌱Drum ParkUrban park2.1 km→🌱Hunters Hall ParkUrban park4.2 km→

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