See hairy Highland Cows on a walk in Edinburgh. Just 30 minutes from the middle of town. Join a qualified mountain guide on a hike up a mountain overlooking the city, see Edinburgh Castle, the sea, and Arthur's Seat Highland Cow Hike in Edinburgh The best Highland Cow experience in Edinburgh 2-3 hour tour Easily accessible from the centre of Edinburgh Encounter Highland Cows in their natural environment See Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, and the sea Meeting point: Hillend Country Park Finishing point: Swanston Village Buy Tickets This hike takes us into the hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh. We enjoy far-reaching views over the city and experience the fresh mountain air. This is the best chance you'll get to see Highland Cows in their natural environment. The small herd is here on the hillside 365 days per year, helping to restore the landscape and wildlife. They have free roam of a large area, so sometimes they can take a while to find, but the search is part of the fun. Your guide has a tried-and-tested method for finding the cows on the hill, which has never failed yet. Along the way we'll see a wide variety of native wildlife including flowers, birds, plants, and other animals. The tour starts at Hillend, which is easily accessible from the centre of Edinburgh by taxi or bus. We finish in Swanston, where you can either head back into Edinburgh or get lunch at Swanston Brasserie. FAQs Frequently asked questions 01 How Many Highland Cows will we see? Usually we see 7 cows on the hill and 3 cows at the end at the farm 03 How do I get to the meeting point? We meet at Hillend Country Park Carpark. You can take a taxi or a bus from the city centre. The nearest bus stop is Lothianburn Golf Club (a short walk away) 05 How Hard is the hike? It depends on your own level of experience and fitness. Beginners are very welcome, as long as you're happy hiking on steep trails for up to 3 hours. Your guide will ensure the pace is suitable for the group, with plenty of breaks for a rest. Maximum distance 6km and 300m of ascent 07 Can we pet the cows? This herd of Highland Cows lives on the hillside 365 days per year. They graze freely and don't usually get fed, so they are not interested in being petted by humans. We have to respect their personal space and stay a safe distance away 09 What do I need to bring? Suitable hiking shoes/boots A jacket (waterproof recommended) Water Expect it to be colder and windier on the hill than in the city. In cold weather bring a hat and gloves. In sunny weather bring a sunhat/suncream 02 How Long does the hike take? It depends where the cows are on the hillside. They have a large area where they can roam free, so the whole tour takes us between two and three hours 04 Have you ever not seen the cows? We've always seen the cows on the hillside. We don't know exactly where they will be, but we have a method to find them 06 Do you see any other wildlife during the tour? Yes lots! It varies through the seasons: Wild flowers Wild berries (foraging opportunity) Birds of prey Grouse Deer Much more... 08 Can we get photos with the cows? Yes absolutely! While maintaining a safe distance, we can get close enough for good photos. The mountains, the city, and Edinburgh Castle provide a great backdrop 10 Is this tour suitable for kids? Yes. Children over 10 years old are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult. They must be able to complete the 3-hour hike on their own

Guided hikes with a qualified Mountain Leader. Join Mountain Marcus on a walk to Edinburgh's highest point. Enjoy a little slice of the Scottish Highlands in the city centre Sunset Hikes and Highland Cow Hikes in Edinburgh Arthur's Seat Hikes Info & Tickets At Sunset Highland Cow Hikes Info & Tickets In Edinburgh Guided Hikes in Edinburgh Arthur's Seat Sunset Hike Reach the highest point in Edinburgh, at sunset with a qualified Mountain Leader The best time of day to experience Arthur's Seat Avoid the daytime crowds City views over Edinburgh's Old Town and Edinburgh Castle Scenic route to the cummit Learn about other wild animals and plants on the way Head torches provided for the descent after dark Easily accessible from the Royal Mile Experienced, qualified guide Info & Tickets Highland Cow Hike See free-roaming Highland Cows in Edinburgh with a qualified Mountain Leader The best way to experience Highland Cows during your stay in Edinburgh See the cows in their natural environment A mountain backdrop provides excellent photo opportunities Your guide has a tried and tested method for finding the cows on the hill Learn about other wild animals and plants on the way Get a bird's-eye view of Edinburgh city Easily accessible from the city centre Experienced, qualified guide Info & Tickets Featured Articles Where to see Highland Cows in Edinburgh The Experience If you're staying in Edinburgh, the best Highland Cow experience is a Highland Cow Hike with Mountain Marcus. This tour visits Swanston, which easily accessible from Edinburgh city centre. We visit the hairy Highland Cows in their natural environment, without having to travel all the way up to the Scottish Highlands. Situated on a beautiful hillside overlooking Edinburgh, this herd of Highland Cows roams free, allowing us great photo opportunities with impressi The Best Way to See Highland Cows in Edinburgh Visit Highland Cows in their natural environment just outside Edinburgh city centre. The Highland Cow's at Swanston used to be Edinburgh's best kept secret, but recently they have proved very popular with both tourists and locals. Plenty of people arrive by bus and taxi to see them every day. But what most visitors don't realise is that if they only see the three cows kept at the farm, they're missing out on the best part of the experience. If you join a guided Highland Cow H Edinburgh's Own Highland Cows You don't have to go far to find Highland Cows in Edinburgh Mountain Marcus is here to show you a herd of friendly Highland Cows on the edge of the city of Edinburgh. We'll hike up to a spectacular mountain viewpoint where we can see out over Edinburgh to the sea. As we climb the hill we start to see Arthur's Seat - the highest point within the city - then Edinburgh Castle reveals itself, along with the Royal Mile and the spires of the city's churches. On a clear day we can s 1 2 3 Reviews ★★★★★ "Fantastic for a solo traveller! The views at sunset were incredible 100% recommend" Hunter, USA Read More Reviews About ABOUT M ountain M arcus Edinburgh-based Mountain Leader Many years experience exploring Scotland's Wild places Sharing the rugged beauty of Scotland's mountains When I'm not leading groups up Arthur's Seat, I spend as much time as possible in Scotland's mountains. Scotland is home to a lifetime's worth of adventures, so - if you'll excuse me - I'm off to climb another mountain. I've been exploring the Highlands and Islands of Scotland ever since I was a child. Their mystical majesty has captured my heart. Tickets Tickets

Guided hikes to climb a mountain in the middle of Edinburgh, at sunset, sunrise, or during the day Arthur's Seat Sunset Hike In Edinburgh An unmissable experience right in the heart of Edinburgh. Did you know the city has its own mountain? This allows us to get a great view over the Edinburgh's iconic skyline, and see all the way to the Scottish Highlands. The best time to enjoy the hill is at sunset or sunrise, when the sky is changing colour and the golden sunlight is casting its glow across the scenery. If you want a little slice of nature during your time in Edinburgh, then make sure you join one of my hikes, where we take a scenic route up the hill, away from the busy paths, so we can see wild animals and rare plants Buy Tickets

People and Pictures Reviews & Photos Here are some thoughts and opinions from people who have joined me on an Arthur's Seat hike. As you can see, they all had a great time. Kathleen New York "The hike up Arthur's Seat with Marcus was wonderful ! He kept an easy pace , paused at regular intervals, and made sure all of us were OK on the few scrambly bits at the top. Marcus shared lots of interesting info about Edinburgh, the shrubs and flowers that grow nearby, the geography of the city, and lots more. Friendly , easy-going guide and amazing views of Edinburgh -- highly recommend !" See this review on FreeTour.com Allison California "Marcus was great ! He made sure to stop at certain points (not only for views but for a break). It was a long hike up but he made it as easy as possible ." See this review on GetYourGuide.com Jodie Seattle "An excellent welcome and insight to the Edinburgh skyline with Marcus. Very knowledgeable and friendly . He is also accommodating to all speeds of walkers. Well thought out view spots also. Excellent excursion to fight jetlag!" See this review on FreeTour.com Hunter Florida Marcus was an incredible trail guide with lots of hiking experience. Marcus also has a vast knowledge of the areas of Edinburgh that you view while hiking to Arthur’s seat. As a solo traveler I’m very pleased with my hike with Marcus, we took a slightly longer unmarked trail due to both of our physical abilities to hike. Which resulted in constant view of the city and an amazing atmosphere , his extensive knowledge of the trails ensured I got the best views overlooking the city during the entire hike. The weather was amazing during the day of hike and had an unbelievable sunset to view. Marcus answered all of my questions about Edinburgh and was a great conversationalist during the hike. I would recommend this to any travelers that enjoy the outdoors and enjoy hiking. See this review on Viator.com Naom Morocco "I highly recommend this excellent experience . I really enjoyed my walk to Arthur's Seat. So many amazing views in Edinburgh especially at sunset. Marcus was a knowledgeable, friendly and very professional guide. There were several stops at strategic locations to take pictures and admire the views as mentioned in the tour description." See this review on Viator.com

Highland Hiking Day Trip Cairngorms National Park From Edinburgh Experience the best of the Scottish Highlands and hike up one of Scotland's tallest mountains An early departure from Edinburgh allows us to take public transport to Aviemore - the gateway to the Cairngorms mountain range - where we take a transfer to into the hills. The hike takes us high up onto the Cairngorm Plateau, a world away from the city we left behind. This is a world of incredible natural beauty, remoteness, grandeur, and fragility. Often we see majestic mountain hares, fluffy ptarmigans, stately stags, and rare eagles. As the seasons change, so do the colours and textures of the ancient forests and high mountain plants. We return to Edinburgh in the evening, watching the sun go down as we travel South. Alternatively, you may choose to continue North to Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. From Inverness you can take transfers to the Isle of Skye and other parts of the Highlands.