Where to walk your dog in Edinburgh
Edinburgh puts wild walks on your doorstep, from Holyrood Park to the city’s green spaces, with Scotland’s access rights as long as your dog stays under proper control. And so you don’t have to walk alone, Wouf & Go shows the walks other owners organise near you or anywhere in Edinburgh.
Where to walk your dog in Edinburgh
Holyrood Park
Managed by Historic Environment Scotland, the park welcomes dogs. Owners must clean up after them and follow any signs asking for leads in certain areas during the nesting season.
Historic Environment Scotland — Holyrood Park: plan your visit
Countryside and green spaces
Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, access rights apply to people walking dogs as long as the dogs are under proper control. In the breeding season, usually April to July, keep your dog on a short lead or close at heel on moorland, in forests and grassland, and on loch shores and the seashore.
Parks and pitches
Edinburgh’s dog fouling rules apply in every public place, including parks and football or rugby pitches, shared back greens and any open land the public can use.
Rules to know before you go
- Keep your dog under proper control, close at heel or on a short lead wherever it could worry other people.
- Don’t take your dog into fields with lambs, calves or other young farm animals; in any field of farm animals, keep it on a short lead or close at heel.
- From April to July, use a short lead in the areas where birds nest on the ground.
- Pick up after your dog in any public place: not doing so means an £80 fixed penalty notice.
Before you set a meeting point
Meet at a named landmark or park entrance rather than just “Holyrood Park”: it is large and hilly. Check the weather and how steep the route is, bring water, and plan an on-lead route during the nesting season.
Find group dog walks in Edinburgh and near you
Walking together is a great way to socialise your dog and meet other owners in your area. On Wouf & Go, members post their walks on a map with the meeting point, date, length and who can join.
- Open the map: it centres on Edinburgh or on your location.
- Pick a walk in your area and check the details.
- Ask to join, or post your own walk if none suits you.
If no walk has been posted near you yet, the map shows the parks around you, so you can start the first one. Get the Android app
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for dog fouling in Edinburgh?
An £80 fixed penalty notice under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003. It applies in streets, parks, pitches, shared back greens and any open land the public can access.
Can my dog be off the lead in Holyrood Park?
Dogs are welcome, and Historic Environment Scotland asks owners to follow the signs requiring a lead in certain areas during the nesting season.
How can I find other dog owners to walk with in Edinburgh?
Open the Wouf & Go map: it shows the walks members have posted in Edinburgh and around you. Join an existing walk or post your own from the app; if there are none in your area yet, the map shows the parks nearby.
Sources
Checked on 11 October 2026 against the official sources below. Check them before you go: access, opening times and rules can change.