Craigmillar Castle Park
✦ Ancient woodland112 ha
Plan your visit
🌳Ancient🧺Picnic💜Bluebells
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome112 ha
Getting here
55.92604, -3.14466
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- ☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
- 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- ☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
- 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
- 🧺Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out
Best for
10 activities🌳Ancient woodland
Very strong match
Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600
🧺Picnic day out
Very strong match
picnic area, car park; Urban park — open green space
💜Bluebell walks
Very strong match
Ancient woodland — native bluebell habitat
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground, picnic area; Urban park — family destination
🦅Bird watching
Strong match
Ancient woodland — owls, woodpeckers, warblers
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km11 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Royal MileWalking route▾
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
135 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 10Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 10Local cycle route
Quiet Route 6Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 6Local cycle route
Quiet Route 11Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 11Local cycle route
Greenbank to Meadows Quiet RouteCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Capital TrailMountain bike route▾
Photos
22 photos from nearby open sources
Old quarry, Craigmillar Castle Park
Photos
Old quarry, Craigmillar Castle Park
Facilities
🅿️Parking
10 nearby · Free · 368m
✦ 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 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
83,033 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
83,033 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds24 species
winterspring
2026Canada Goose · Goldfinch · Jay · Jackdaw · Kestrel
+19 more speciesHide species list
All 24 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- TealAnas crecca
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- GadwallMareca strepera
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- RavenCorvus corax
- Northern Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
🦌Mammals2 species
winterspring
2026Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel
🐝Insects38 species
winterspring
2026Orange Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Cream-spot Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird · Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
+33 more speciesHide species list
All 38 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata
- 2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
- Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
83,033 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds24 species
winterspring
2026Canada Goose · Goldfinch · Jay · Jackdaw · Kestrel
+19 more speciesHide species list
All 24 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- TealAnas crecca
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- GadwallMareca strepera
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- RavenCorvus corax
- Northern Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
🦌Mammals2 species
winterspring
2026Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel
🐝Insects38 species
winterspring
2026Orange Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Cream-spot Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird · Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
+33 more speciesHide species list
All 38 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata
- 2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
- Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Eyed Ladybird
Eyed Ladybird
Anatis ocellata
Anatis ocellata
Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterataLarch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctataCommon Flower BugAnthocoris nemorumCommon Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum18-spot LadybirdMyrrha octodecimguttata18-spot LadybirdMyrrha octodecimguttata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataHawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidaleHawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidaleAcericerus heydeniiAcericerus heydeniiAcericerus heydeniiAcericerus heydeniiAnthocoris confususAnthocoris confususAnthocoris confususAnthocoris confususEctopsocus axillarisEctopsocus axillarisEctopsocus axillarisEctopsocus axillarisEctopsocus petersiEctopsocus petersiEctopsocus petersiEctopsocus petersiTrichopsocus brinckiTrichopsocus brinckiTrichopsocus brinckiTrichopsocus brinckiBirch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctusBirch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctusRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesCream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctataCream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctataBuchananiella continuaBuchananiella continuaBuchananiella continuaBuchananiella continuaStriped LadybirdMyzia oblongoguttataStriped LadybirdMyzia oblongoguttataEmpoasca vitisEmpoasca vitisEmpoasca vitisEmpoasca vitisPhloiophilus edwardsiiPhloiophilus edwardsiiPhloiophilus edwardsiiPhloiophilus edwardsiiSphaeriestes castaneusSphaeriestes castaneusSphaeriestes castaneusSphaeriestes castaneusWestern Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalisWestern Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalisAndrion regensteinenseAndrion regensteinenseAndrion regensteinenseAndrion regensteinenseHairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarumHairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarumCerylon ferrugineumCerylon ferrugineumCerylon ferrugineumCerylon ferrugineumMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxAcompocoris alpinusAcompocoris alpinusAcompocoris alpinusAcompocoris alpinusAdonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegataAdonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegataEpicaecilius pilipennisEpicaecilius pilipennisEpicaecilius pilipennisEpicaecilius pilipennisPine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatusPine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatusTephrochlamys rufiventrisTephrochlamys rufiventrisTephrochlamys rufiventrisTephrochlamys rufiventrisSylvicolaSylvicolaSylvicolaSylvicolaBronze ShieldbugTroilus luridusBronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus