← Back🦉 Nature reserve

Meadows Yard

2 ha

📷 Sandy Gemmill · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeDogs

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

55.96445, -3.13286

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Carrion Crow
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking on site — 10 car parks within reach

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Carrion Crow
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking on site — 10 car parks within reach

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingParking

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Mallard, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon +73 more · last seen 2026; Nature reserve

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — nature reserve

Free

Forest walks

Strong match

Nature reserve

Free

Seasonal nature

Good match

Nature reserve — seasonal wildlife and habitats

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Orange Ladybird, Syrphus, 2-spot Ladybird +3 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Orange Ladybird, Syrphus, 2-spot Ladybird +3 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

8 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

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

🚴

Cycling

138 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 75Cycling route

Named routeRef 75National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 76Cycling route

Named routeRef 76Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network

John Muir WayCycling route215 km

Named routeRef JMWLength 215 kmPoint-to-pointRegional cycle route

Quiet Route 20Cycling route

Named routeRef 20Local cycle route

Quiet Route 61Cycling route

Named routeRef 61Local cycle route

Quiet Route 13Cycling route

Named routeRef 13Local cycle route

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Capital TrailMountain bike route

Named route

About this nature reserve

Meadows Yard is a 2-hectare Local Nature Reserve in the City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh and Lothians. It contains small natural habitats that support local plants and insects, ideal for those looking to explore urban green spaces.

Wildlife to spot

58,455 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

58,455 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

winter

2026

Teal · Mallard · Grey Heron · Coot · Blackbird +42

TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
CootFulica atra
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
RobinErithacus rubecula
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JackdawColoeus monedula
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Great TitParus major
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
DunnockPrunella modularis
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SiskinSpinus spinus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
DipperCinclus cinclus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

springwinter

2026

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025

🐝

Insects2 species

winter

2026

Orange Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird

Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

58,455 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

winter

2026

Teal · Mallard · Grey Heron · Coot · Blackbird +42

TealAnas crecca
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
CootFulica atra
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
RobinErithacus rubecula
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JackdawColoeus monedula
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Great TitParus major
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
DunnockPrunella modularis
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SiskinSpinus spinus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
DipperCinclus cinclus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas
Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata
Carrion/Hooded Crow HybridCorvus corone x cornix2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

springwinter

2026

Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025

🐝

Insects2 species

winter

2026

Orange Ladybird · 2-spot Ladybird

Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Sandy Gemmill · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Meadows Yard

1 / 16

Events & activities nearby

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

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Leith Links WestUrban park2.1 km→🌱Newhailes House & GardensUrban park4.2 km→🌱The MeadowsUrban park4.5 km→🌱West Princes Street GardensUrban park4.5 km→🌱The FieldUrban park2.5 km→🌱Craigmillar Castle ParkUrban park4.3 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 7a0b1a3a-097f-4220-a6d4-ae634eaa598c