How to See Hairy Coos in Pentland Hills Edinburgh (and an Alpine Coaster)

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Where to see hairy coos in Edinburgh? Look no further than the Pentland Hills, which is just a short 5-mile bus ride from Edinburgh city centre.

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.

And did I mention there’s an alpine coaster there as well?

It’s well worth a trip from Edinburgh for a day. Here’s a complete guide to make the most of your visit to the Pentland Hills.

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Why Are There Hairy Coos in the Pentland Hills?

Swanston Farm has a fold of hairy coos that make their home in the Pentland Hills. 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.

A Highland cow with long horns and shaggy reddish fur lies on a grassy hillside, with trees nearby and a distant town visible under a partly cloudy sky. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

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.

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.

A woman with long brown hair and glasses kneels smiling in a grassy field near two large Highland cows with long horns, one lying down and one sitting, with green hills in the background. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

Where to Find the Free-Roaming Highland Cows

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!

Two Highland cows graze in a green field, surrounded by a wire fence. Blurred flowers are in the foreground, with a village and hills visible in the background. — Swanston Farm

A wooden signpost on a grassy path features two orange signs with arrows and an image of a Highland cow, directing visitors to a Hill for viewing Highland cows. A white info sign with a QR code is also attached. — Swanston Farm

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.

People walk through a green grassy field with several cows lying down and grazing. Rolling hills and bushes are visible in the background under an overcast sky. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

A shaggy Highland cow with long horns lies on its side in a grassy field, turning its head and licking its nose. Green hills and sparse bushes are visible in the background. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

What Else to Do: Ride the Alpine Coaster

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!

A coaster in the hills with incredible views of Edinburgh? Yes, please.

What Is the Alpine Coaster Like?

This coaster is SO fun. It may seem expensive, but it’s such a unique experience that I felt it was worth it.

The ride is about 3 minutes long.
Each rider sits in their own individual car.
You’re in control of the speed. You can push it up to the max 28 mph or slow it down to a crawl.

3 Rides or 1?

During off-peak times, you can purchase just a single ride instead of three rides, but I highly encourage you to go for three. One is not enough!

Plus, sometimes you may get stuck behind someone going incredibly slow in their coaster, which is not ideal if you’re trying to go full speed.

You’ll have better odds of a good experience when you have 3 rides.

Quick Facts about the Alpine Coaster

Location: Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Biggar Road, Hillend, Edinburgh EH107DU
Distance from Swanston Farm: 1.2 miles, about a 30-minute walk
Hours: Opens at 10 a.m. until mid-late afternoon. Closed Wednesdays and certain dates for maintenance.
Cost: £19 for 3 rides (one person, within one half hour)
How to Book Tickets: Book in advance on the website to avoid disappointment.
How to Learn More: Visit the official website.

A person rides a single-seat rail coaster uphill on a metal track surrounded by grassy hills under a cloudy sky. The scene includes fencing and a partially visible railing in the foreground. — Alpine Coaster, Edinburgh

Two empty alpine coaster seats on a metal track in front of a grassy hillside with winding paths and cloudy skies above. — Alpine Coaster, Edinburgh

How Long to Spend There

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

Is It Worth Visiting on a Day Trip?

Yes, I definitely think visiting the Pentland Hills is worth one of your days in Edinburgh.

Especially if it’s a bright, sunny day, like I was lucky enough to enjoy during my visit.

It’s a beautiful area with incredible views. And you may run into a hairy coo — what could be better?

A woman kneels in a grassy field beside a resting Highland cow, with rolling hills, trees, and a distant town visible under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

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.

A large rock by a rural roadside displays a sign with an image of a highland cow and the words Highland Cows, indicating their presence ahead; hills and greenery are in the background. — Swanston Farm

A wooden fence covered with green leafy vines stands beside a road. A round orange and white sign with a Highland cow illustration and “Highlands Cows” text is attached to the fence. Cars and trees are visible in the background. — Swanston Farm

When to Visit

Spring and summer are the ideal seasons to visit, but even during winter you can enjoy the Pentland Hills (with some limitations).

In any season, check the weather forecast before heading out as Scotland’s climate is notoriously unpredictable.

Highland cows rest on a grassy hillside under a blue sky, with a few people walking in the background and a distant view of a city nestled between hills and trees. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

A Highland cow with long horns lies in the grass while another grazes nearby in a green, open field with trees in the background. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

Where to Stay While Visiting

The Pentland Hills make for a great day trip (and are technically still in Edinburgh), so I’d recommend staying in Edinburgh while visiting.

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.