Swanston

Swanston – Exmoor Ponies and Lunch under the Pentland Hills

A few hours.

The route

Edinburgh University's pony trekking society keeps its Exmoor ponies at Swanston, on the edge of the city where the Pentland Hills begin, and its student volunteers take riders of every level out on them.

Children can ride from four. Lunch afterwards is at Swanston Brasserie, which looks out over the hills.

The day

Swanston

Up the footpath to the ponies' field for an hour or so in the saddle, then back down for lunch.

About three and a half hoursAbout 0.5 miles on foot

Edinburgh University Exmoor Pony Trekking
In term time, from September to May, the ponies live in a field on the hill at Swanston, and student trek leaders take riders out on Saturdays and Sundays. The herd goes back to 1920; it left Exmoor in 1949 and moved to Edinburgh. Exmoors are a listed rare breed, small and bay, brown or dun, and by January they're in thick double coats. The all-abilities trek sets off at noon or 1pm for an hour to an hour and a half, for beginners and children from eight; younger children can have a Pootle, 30 to 45 minutes led on a rein, in the afternoon. The footpath up from the free car park below Swanston Brasserie takes ten to fifteen minutes, and riders more than 20 minutes late can be left behind. Wear boots with a small heel, long trousers and gloves, and bring waterproofs; helmets are lent.
About 9 min on foot
Swanston Brasserie
Lunch
Swanston Brasserie is the large white building at the top of Swanston Road, just above the car park. Its seasonal food is locally sourced, and from October to March the kitchen takes orders until 4pm at weekends. The dining room is on the first floor, with a ramp to the front door and a lift inside. The farm's three retired Highland cattle are under five minutes' walk away: watch them from the path, as the farm asks.