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No trip to Scotland is complete without seeing a Highland cow. These coos are too cute and well worth the effort to find.
Edinburgh is not the Scottish Highlands, but don’t worry, there are coos here too!
To see hairy coos while visiting Edinburgh, you have two options:
- Head to the Pentland Hills (about 5 miles from Edinburgh city centre)
- Join a group tour to the Highlands, departing from Edinburgh
I’ve done both and can tell you the pros and cons, so you can make the best choice for your Scotland itinerary.
Either way, it’s a chance to see these cute iconic Scottish cows, and who wouldn’t want that?
Option 1: Pentland Hills in Edinburgh
Swanston Farm has a fold of hairy coos that make their home in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh. They live out on the hills 24/7, every day of the year. Yes, even in the rain and snow.
The hairy coos have a job, too — conservation grazers. They’re not just here to look pretty for pictures but are a part of a working farm.
In addition to hairy coos, the Pentland Hills have incredible views of Edinburgh. On a clear day, you can see the castle, Arthur’s Seat, and even the ocean.
Quick Facts about Visiting Swanston Farm
Location: 111 Swanston Road, Edinburgh EH107DS
Distance from Edinburgh Castle: 5 miles
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Cost: Free
How to Learn More: Visit the official Swanston Farm website.
Best Guided Walking Tour at Pentland Hills: Scotland Hikes & Tours
Some Rules for Visiting the Hairy Coos
If you happen upon a hairy coo in the hills, be sure to follow these rules:
Don’t touch/pet the hairy coos. Hairy coos have iconically long hair that looks soft enough to touch, but unfortunately, they don’t like to be petted.
Stay at least 10 meters away from the hairy coos. They are large animals, weighing as much as a small car, and they have long horns. Although hairy coos look calm and friendly, they are powerful and move fast.
Don’t feed the hairy coos. Don’t bring carrots or vegetables for them. They are self-sufficient, eating the grass in the fields. Anything else could make them sick.
Remember this is their home. They’re just trying to live their lives, so give them that peace.
Consider joining a guided hiking tour of the Pentland Hills to learn more about the area from a local.
Where to Find the Free-Roaming Highland Cows in the Pentland Hills
After my visit, Swanston Farm updated their signage and website to discourage visitors from looking for the hairy coos that are roaming freely in the Pentland Hills.
Instead, they suggest just viewing the hairy coos that are fenced in near the Swanston Brasserie.
I’m sure these new instructions were made for a reason, perhaps visitors have been bothering the hairy coos. I didn’t dare touch one of the Highland cows I saw in the Pentland Hills, but I probably got too close.
Spot 1: Near Swanston Brasserie
There are a few hairy coos fenced in in a field near Swanston Brasserie, and this is the only official spot that Swanston Farm encourages people to visit the hairy coos.
Use this map to find it.
When I visited, I saw two hairy coos inside this fenced area. There is also a nice view of Edinburgh in the distance.
Recommendation: Eat at Swanston Brasserie for lunch while you are in the area!
Spot 2: Out in the Hills
You can choose to continue walking around the Pentland Hills, where you may happen upon some free-roaming Highland cows. (Although, I don’t encourage you to specifically go looking for them per Swanston Farm’s new rules.)
While walking around, if you do happen upon a hairy coo, don’t get too close and definitely don’t try to pet one.
Give the hairy coos plenty of space and don’t bother them.
How Long to Spend There
While you’re in the Pentland Hills, I suggest making a day of it and walking over to the Midlothian Snowsports Centre, which is about a mile away from Swanston Farm. There, you’ll find Scotland‘s first alpine coaster!
With the hiking and the coaster, expect to spend a full day in the Pentland Hills.
It might seem that you won’t be doing much, just frolicking in the fields and riding a 3-minute coaster, but everything combined really does take all day.
Estimated amount of time spent on each activity in the Pentland Hills:
- Getting to the Pentland Hills via bus: 45 minutes (each way)
- Walking around Swanston Farm and the Pentland Hills: 1-3 hours
- Eating lunch at Swanston Brasserie: 1 hour
- Walking to Midlothian Snowsports Centre: 30 minutes
- Riding the alpine coaster: 30 minutes
Consider joining a guided hiking tour of the Pentland Hills to learn more about the area from a local.
How to Get There
You can take the bus to either Swanston Farm or the Midlothian Snowsports Centre from Edinburgh’s city centre.
I took the bus first to Swanston Farm, then walked to the alpine coaster at Midlothian Snowsports Centre, then took another bus back from there.
Use Google Maps for more accurate directions according to your starting time and location.
You can also leave the directions and planning to a local if you’d rather join a guided hiking tour instead.
Option 2: Join a Group Tour to the Scottish Highlands
If you want to see Highland cows while visiting Edinburgh, your other option is to join a group tour to the Scottish Highlands.
I did this on my very first visit to Edinburgh, all those years ago, and remember being so excited when the bus stopped so we could see some hairy coos in person.
Your first time seeing a hairy coo is one you’ll always remember, honestly.
Is a Group Tour Worth It?
However, with so many people on the bus cramming for photos of the coos, and our bus driver hurrying us along, it wasn’t as picturesque as I expected.
Our driver gave us carrots to feed them, but the hairy coos were behind a fence.
Still, it was definitely worth it just to finally see one in real life, even if only for a few minutes.
Which Tours Stop to See Hairy Coos?
Many tours will make an extra stop (if there’s time) to see hairy coos, but if you want to know for sure that you will see them, make sure it’s on the itinerary.
Here are a few that will stop for Highland cows, departing from Edinburgh:
What’s the Best Option to See Hairy Coos in Edinburgh?
The best option really depends on your itinerary and what else you plan to do in Scotland.
Did you already plan to do a group trip to the Highlands? Then it would make sense to pick one that will make a stop to see hairy coos.
The con is that your day will mostly be spent in a bus, and your stop to see the hairy coos will be rushed and only a few minutes long.
Do you have a free day and want to spend more time with hairy coos? Then it would be better to choose to visit the Pentland Hills. You’ll spend less time on a bus and more time frolicking in the hills, looking for coos.
The con is that you’ll lose an entire day to this, rather than combining it with other activities you want to do in Scotland (and there really are so many places to see).
Where to Stay While Visiting
The Pentland Hills make for a great day trip from Edinburgh (and are technically still in Edinburgh), so I’d recommend staying in Edinburgh while visiting. And most group tours depart from Edinburgh’s city centre.
To make things even more convenient, you should consider staying near the Waverley Train Station, especially if you plan to do a number of day trips from Edinburgh.
For a full, detailed breakdown of the best areas to stay in Edinburgh, see my post, “Where to Stay in Edinburgh the First Time: 5 Best Places + 5 to Avoid.”
Recommended hotels in Edinburgh near Waverley Train Station:
What to Pack to Visit Scotland
Warm, waterproof wear
If you’re visiting Scotland during its cold and rainy season (almost every month of the year besides a few weeks in summer), you should definitely bring a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots.
- This waterproof jacket and these waterproof boots I took with me to Scotland helped us explore no matter the weather. We walked around Edinburgh in the rain and snow, during foggy mornings and chilly evenings, and enjoyed it all. Be prepared for rainy weather, and dress for it, so you don’t miss out.
- Also consider bringing fleece-lined leggings — I loved this pair I packed!
Favorite travel essentials
- I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
- I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
- I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
- I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to Scotland
Day Trips from Edinburgh
- Best Day Trips from Edinburgh: What’s Worth It?
- Is a Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh Worth It?
Edinburgh