Dalkeith Country Park

It’s on the outskirts of Edinburgh within the town of Dalkeith. It’s quite expansive and there is plenty to explore within the estate’s 500 acres.
The Grand house isn’t open to the public as it houses some American institute. The adventure playground has vanished leaving a gap without use. The old stables used to house a café but that looked closed on my visit. Also the toilets were locked so you’ll have to hold on and spend a penny else where! On a sad note the caves are closed off … it’s been one by one cave which was one of my favourite things about dalkeith country park. The saddest part of it all, is the orangery conservatory which has extensive damaged and now cornered off to the public. This would make a grand tea room if the estate got it’s boots on!
All these point are negative I know but I spent my childhood coming here with my mum and brother and it’s sad to see such ruin within the walls.
Mind you, there are plenty of walks and nice spots to stop and take in the view. There are horses that come from the livery and you can cycle along the paths. You can even walk your dog but it MUST be kept on the lead!
I hope the estate and rangers can turn this place around and create an ideal family day out because it’s missing that!

Dalkeith is a small town about 5 miles outside the centre of Edinburgh. Although close to Auld Reekie, you wouldn’t know it thanks to the sizeable green belt that Edinburgh has. Within Dalkeith is the Country Park, an oasis of 500 acres of woodland, all of which can be explored by foot, bike or even horse.
Entering from Dalkeith itself, one of the first things you’ll see is the adventure playground. I have visited this a couple of times with the children’s charity I volunteer with, and the kids have absolutely loved it each time. There’s a long slide, a wooden fort, high wooden walkways, swings, an obstacle course, all surrounded by the usual amount of bark chippings.
There seems to be no end of different games and ways round the adventure playground. It will quite happily occupy you for a couple of hours. As for the rest of the grounds, if they’re anything like this, then they’ll be beautiful.
Dalkeith Country Park, especially in the summer, is a great day out, with something for all the members of the family to enjoy. There’s free parking at the Dalkeith end, and some picnic tables near the playground. There’s nothing better than watching the sun set slowly with a vista looking over Dalkeith Palace. A true gem.