← Back✦ Historic site

Mercat Cross

📷 Anne Burgess · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsHeritage

Dogs welcome

Getting here

55.91300, -2.93874

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

🌞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
☕Hoods Honey — a good base for a longer summer day out

🌤️ 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
☕Hoods Honey — a good base for a longer summer day out

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingCaféParking

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit +66 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit +66 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Cantharis livida, 14-spot Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird +12 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Cantharis livida, 14-spot Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird +12 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Moderate match

Plants — Water Fern · last seen 2023; Plants — Water Fern · last seen 2023

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

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

Pencaitland Railway WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

23 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

1722 WaggonwayCycling route

Named routeLocal 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

Main RouteCycling route640 m

Named routeRef 196Length 640 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route198 m

Named routeRef 196Length 198 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Capital TrailMountain bike route

Named route

Wildlife to spot

10,170 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

10,170 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds44 species

autumn

2026

Yellowhammer · Dunnock · Chiffchaff · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit +39

YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Great TitParus major2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
DipperCinclus cinclus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
SwiftApus apus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

winterautumn

2026

Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel · Badger · Red Fox · Otter +1

Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
BadgerMeles meles
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
OtterLutra lutra
WeaselMustela nivalis2025

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2026

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects3 species

summer

2025

14-spot Ladybird · Syrphus · Woolly Apple Aphid

14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
SyrphusSyrphus
Woolly Apple AphidEriosoma lanigerum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

10,170 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds44 species

autumn

2026

Yellowhammer · Dunnock · Chiffchaff · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit +39

YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Great TitParus major2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
DipperCinclus cinclus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
SwiftApus apus2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

winterautumn

2026

Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel · Badger · Red Fox · Otter +1

Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
BadgerMeles meles
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
OtterLutra lutra
WeaselMustela nivalis2025

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2026

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects3 species

summer

2025

14-spot Ladybird · Syrphus · Woolly Apple Aphid

14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
SyrphusSyrphus
Woolly Apple AphidEriosoma lanigerum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Anne Burgess · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Mercat Cross

1 / 22

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

🌱Polson Public ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Ormiston ParkUrban park600 m→🌱Polson Public ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Carberry EstateUrban park4.8 km→🌱Ormiston GrowsUrban park500 m→🌱Ormiston ParkUrban park600 m→

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: da9291ea-365d-44dd-b399-ad6aa4ec2cb4