Dalkeith Country Park Campsite

Dalkeith Country Park Campsite offers tent camping in an open field within the country park, south of Edinburgh. Toilets and showers cover the essentials, while pre-pitched tents with air beds offer an alternative to bringing your own tent. Dogs are welcome on camping pitches, though not in the pre-pitched tents. The setting combines camping with access to a substantial country estate, rather than a remote Highland location.

The park’s 1,000 acres give visitors several ways to explore on foot. The yellow waymarked Wildernesse Walk follows relatively flat loops, taking in views of Dalkeith Palace and St Mary’s Church, stretches beside the River Esk and a passage through Restoration Yard. For a longer outing, the 6km Estate Trail reaches towards the park boundaries through farmland, passing Smeaton Bridge and Castlemeads; some sections are uneven. The Old Oak Wood is another distinctive part of the estate, protected for its rare beetles and lichens, although sections of its trail close during winter to protect the trees.

Elsewhere in the park, Restoration Yard has a shop, restaurant and coffee bar, while Fort Douglas provides a ticketed adventure playground. These are park attractions rather than campsite facilities. Dalkeith High Street meets the park at Town Gate, and bus links from the town offer an option for exploring Edinburgh without driving into the centre. This makes it possible to mix days around the estate with visits to the capital.