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A wooded hillside rises above the still waters of a loch.
Edinburgh

Duddingston Loch

Edinburgh's one natural freshwater loch, under the south side of Arthur's Seat, a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve with a heronry in its trees.

Welcome

Tucked under the south-east side of Arthur's Seat, below the old village of Duddingston, lies the only natural freshwater loch left in Edinburgh.

The hill rises steeply from its northern shore, and reeds, scrub and woodland fringe the water, so that it feels a very long way from the city centre only a couple of miles away.

The loch and the woods of Bawsinch along its southern side are a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, and the birds are the reason. Herons nest in a colony in the trees, swans and ducks work the open water, warblers sing in the reedbeds in summer, and kingfishers flash along the edges. In winter, otters have been seen swimming along the shore.

The northern shore is open all year from the car park just west of the village, with Dr Neil's Garden and the Sheep Heid Inn a short walk away. The southern shore and the Trust's bird hide are opened by arrangement.

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The Daily for 9 November, from Scotland with love. an autumn-wooded loch reflected in still water, rocks breaking the surface in the foreground
Round the cornerSheep Heid InnAn inn in Duddingston village with a claim to 1360, one of the oldest in Scotland, with a skittle alley of the 1880s still in play.1 min by roadSee itSheep Heid Inn

Before you go

The northern shore is open all year, reached from the car park just west of Duddingston village.

The southern shore, and the Trust's bird hide there, are behind a locked gate and open only by arrangement with the Trust.

Where
The south side of Holyrood Park, by Duddingston village.
Parking
The car park just west of Duddingston village.
The hide
On the southern shore, by arrangement with the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

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Where it is

Under the south-east side of Arthur's Seat, beside Duddingston village.

Close byDuddingston village and the far side of Arthur's Seat.
  1. Dr Neil’s GardenDr Neil’s GardenA garden made from 1963 by two Edinburgh doctors on the slope above the loch.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Water of Leith winds through Dean Village beneath timber-fronted tenements and stone wallsAround Duddingston villageUnder a mile 1 min by road
  3. Craigmillar Castle rising above rough grass in Craigmillar Castle Park.Craigmillar Castle ParkThe woods and open grass around Craigmillar Castle.1 mile 5 min by road
  4. RhubarbRhubarbThe restaurant of Prestonfield House, a mansion of 1687 below Arthur's Seat.3 miles 11 min by road
  5. Arthur’s SeatArthur’s SeatThe 251-metre summit of an old volcano in Holyrood Park.4 miles 13 min by road
Directions
White-washed Sheep Heid Inn Duddingston with black-framed windows and a ram's head signRestaurantsSheep Heid InnA step away
Stairwell with "STEP NO. 2" stencilled beside a waterfall photograph and windowsill plantAttractionsHolyrood Distillery1.2 miles as the crow flies
Green door reading "101 Bakery" beside leaf murals and potted plantsCafe101 Bakery1.2 miles as the crow flies
The bright yellow front of Tiger Dragon at 87 St Leonard's Street, its sign reading Chinese Traditional Pancake, with a white bench under the window.CafeTiger Dragon1.2 miles
The dining room at Condita by candlelight, with round wooden tables laid for dinner in the foreground and string-art panels on the white walls beyond.RestaurantsCondita1.2 miles
Angular rusted-metal sculpture rising from a grassy bank beside a curved stone pathAttractionsDynamic Earth1.3 miles as the crow flies
The glass counter at Peregrine filled with trays of bakes, among them a Tayto cheese and onion Danish, a Guinness wheaten loaf and a champ potato farl.CafePeregrine1.3 miles
A cast-iron pot of braised tofu in a red chilli sauce beside a plate of crisp battered slices in a light, sweet sauce, on a blue tablecloth at The Way Taste.RestaurantsThe Way Taste1.3 miles
A crisp, spicy stir-fry with red and green chillies and sliced peppers, served in a steel dry pot on a wooden table at Taste of Home on Clerk Street.RestaurantsTaste of Home1.3 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the loch, and when each is next free.

A turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the loch
Check datesA hotel studio room with a beige fitted kitchen unit and stainless sink beside a bed dressed in white and teal cushions, a wall of black-framed pictures above a patterned headboard.Old Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from the loch
Check datesA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • 2 miles from the loch
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • 3 miles from the loch
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Edinburgh.

ArticleThe Fairy Coffins of Edinburgh: An Unsolved Mystery Beneath Arthur’s SeatCollectionThings to Do in Edinburgh on a ShoestringCollectionQuiet Corners of EdinburghCollectionGreen Spaces in Edinburgh Worth Finding
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .