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Hays Park

📷 Richard Webb · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeFamily

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Getting here

55.93547, -3.12204

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦71+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Mute Swan
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕Café on site — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦71+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Mute Swan
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕Café on site — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingCaféParking· FreePlayground

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Robin, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon +68 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon +68 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Family friendly

Strong match

playground, café; Urban park — family destination

Free

Playgrounds

Strong match

playground, café, parking

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Syrphus +18 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Syrphus +18 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

The Royal MileWalking route

Named route

Innocent RailwayWalking route

Named routeRef CEC5

Core PathsWalking route

East Lothian Core Path Network

Named routeLocal walking route

Water of Leith Walkway (Slateford to Leith)Walking route

Named routeRef CEC18Local walking route

John Muir Way (South Queensferry to Edinburgh part 2)Walking route

Named routeRef JMWPoint-to-pointNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

140 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route RRCycling route

Named routeRef RRLocal cycle route

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

Quiet Route 15Cycling route

Named routeRef 15Local cycle route

Greenbank to Meadows Quiet RouteCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Capital TrailMountain bike route

Named route

Wildlife to spot

67,373 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

67,373 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds74 species

autumnwinter

2026

Mute Swan · Robin · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Carrion Crow +69

Mute SwanCygnus olor
RobinErithacus rubecula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MagpiePica pica
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
DunnockPrunella modularis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CootFulica atra2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
TealAnas crecca
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BuzzardButeo buteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
SiskinSpinus spinus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Stock DoveColumba oenas
GadwallMareca strepera
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
DipperCinclus cinclus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
CurlewNumenius arquata
WigeonMareca penelope2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
Northern Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus caudatus
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
ScaupAythya marila2025
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025

🦌

Mammals5 species

autumnwinter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer · Otter · Red Fox · Brown Rat

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
OtterLutra lutra2025
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2025

🐝

Insects21 species

autumn

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · Syrphus · Orange Ladybird · Common Darter +16

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Limnephilus flavicornisLimnephilus flavicornis2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2025
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025
Elipsocus hyalinusElipsocus hyalinus2025
Blaste (Euclismia) quadrimaculataBlaste (Euclismia) quadrimaculata2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Ribautiana ulmiRibautiana ulmi2025
Valenzuela flavidusValenzuela flavidus2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Cerobasis guestfalicaCerobasis guestfalica2025
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

67,373 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds74 species

autumnwinter

2026

Mute Swan · Robin · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Carrion Crow +69

Mute SwanCygnus olor
RobinErithacus rubecula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
MagpiePica pica
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
DunnockPrunella modularis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CootFulica atra2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
TealAnas crecca
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BuzzardButeo buteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
SiskinSpinus spinus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Stock DoveColumba oenas
GadwallMareca strepera
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
DipperCinclus cinclus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
CurlewNumenius arquata
WigeonMareca penelope2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
EiderSomateria mollissima2025
Northern Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus caudatus
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2025
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
ScaupAythya marila2025
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025

🦌

Mammals5 species

autumnwinter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer · Otter · Red Fox · Brown Rat

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
OtterLutra lutra2025
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2025

🐝

Insects21 species

autumn

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · Syrphus · Orange Ladybird · Common Darter +16

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2025
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Limnephilus flavicornisLimnephilus flavicornis2025
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2025
Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2025
Elipsocus hyalinusElipsocus hyalinus2025
Blaste (Euclismia) quadrimaculataBlaste (Euclismia) quadrimaculata2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Ribautiana ulmiRibautiana ulmi2025
Valenzuela flavidusValenzuela flavidus2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Cerobasis guestfalicaCerobasis guestfalica2025
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Richard Webb · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hays Park, Niddrie Mains

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Newhailes House & GardensUrban park2.8 km→🌱The MeadowsUrban park4.4 km→🌱Leith Links WestUrban park4.8 km→🌱Craigmillar Castle ParkUrban park1.8 km→🌱The FieldUrban park1.9 km→🌱Jewel ParkUrban park300 m→

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