Adventures at Swanston Farm

– by Alyvia

_{Highland coos resting on a hill in the distance}

In the southwestern part of Edinburgh lies Pentland Hills Regional Park, a beautiful expanse of hikes and farmland. A great place to visit in this park is Swanston Farm, which is about a 20-minute drive from the center of the city. This farm is a very popular place for study abroad students who wish to meet Highland coos (coos means cows in Scots!) without actually venturing into the Highlands.

My first visit to the farm was organized by someone else, as I went with a big group of friends, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect— except to see some cows! Once we arrived at the base of the farm, we had about a 3-minute walk until we came to some fenced-in cows lounging in the grass. I know some people who have been able to pet the cows if they approached the edge of the fence, but the cows remained out of reach for us. We excitedly took many pictures, and then the group ended up splitting up, some of us embarking on a hike, some staying behind with the first cows, and some going down to the Swanston Brasserie for a break and a bite to eat.

I went with the hiking group, which chose a route that led us to a steep and muddy path up a hill. Rain began to pour from the gray clouds after we had finally reached a flat stopping point and regrouped. We ultimately made the choice to turn back, reluctantly giving in to the reality that we weren’t going to make it to the top due to the weather. However, nature rewarded us with a stunning rainbow as we headed back down the way we had come. Despite slipping and falling in the mud and getting drenched in the rain, the adventure was worth it for that view!

_{Rainbow at Pentland Hills Regional Park}

My second trip to the farm was in late February, when my mom and sister came to visit me for a week. They were eager to meet some Highland cows, and I knew just where to take them. Once again, I got to spend some time admiring a few of the cows at the start of the path, except this time we were interrupted by a noisy sheep calling out to his visitors. Then we moved on to the hills, ready to hike. We chose a long route, which led us to hike for a couple of hours, but it was truly worth it. The weather was beautiful, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view at the top, and we ran into about eight adorable Highland cows relaxing on a hill on our way back down. The cows were very calm, and so it was easy for us to approach them and snap some pictures of these amazing animals.

_{View from the top of our hike}

_{My sister with a Highland coo}

It’s easy to appreciate the beauty of Edinburgh on a blue-sky day at Swanston Farm. Everyone was out enjoying the weather— we spent hours in the sun, the cows were sunbathing in the grass, locals were walking their dogs, and we even spotted a couple of paragliders! These days spent at the farm have been some of my favorite parts of living in Edinburgh so far, and I highly recommend it for anyone seeking the more outdoorsy experience of the city!