Lochend Park
🏟 Playground & park · Lochend / Restalrig, Edinburgh
Lochend Park
An east Edinburgh park built around a spring-fed loch full of waterfowl, with a children's play area, a teen area and a historic 16th-century doocot.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open public park, accessible year-round; no stated closing hours. · Free · No booking needed
About Lochend Park
Lochend Park is a free, public park in the Lochend and Restalrig area of east Edinburgh, near Meadowbank, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council. Its centrepiece is a natural spring-fed loch that is home to a wide range of wildfowl, including swans, geese, coots, moorhens, mallards and herons, with a viewing platform at the north end added in 2011 for wildlife watching. Paths loop around the water, past open grass, trees and planting beds of aquatic vegetation. For families there is a children's play area and a separate teen area, so the park works for a range of ages. The site is rich in history: it was once the grounds of Lochend Castle, later replaced by Lochend House, and the loch supplied water to nearby Leith from around 1650 until the early 20th century. A 16th-century doocot (dovecote), now a Category B listed building, still stands in the park and has had a colourful past, including use as a plague kiln in 1564 and later as a boathouse. The park was awarded a Green Flag in 2012 in recognition of its quality as a greenspace.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Spring-fed loch with waterfowl (swans, geese, coots, moorhens, mallards, herons)
- Viewing platform
- 16th-century doocot (Category B listed)
- Sports areas
- Open grass and trees
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Accessibility: Paths run around the loch with a viewing platform at the north end; the park sits in a hollow with grassy slopes around the water.
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's play area
- Teen area
📍 Nearby places to play
- Dalmeny Street Park · approx 0.5 miles · Leith
- Leith Links · approx 0.7 miles · Leith
- Pilrig Park · approx 1.0 miles · Pilrig / Leith
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Lochend Park free?
Yes. Lochend Park is a free, public park in east Edinburgh, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.
What's in the playground?
There is a children's play area and a separate teen area beside the loch. Specific equipment is not confirmed in official sources.
Are there toilets or a cafe?
We could not confirm toilets or a cafe within the park from official sources.
Where is Lochend Park?
It is in the Lochend / Restalrig area of east Edinburgh, near Meadowbank Stadium, postcode area EH7.
What else is there to see?
The main feature is a spring-fed loch with waterfowl and a viewing platform, plus a historic 16th-century listed doocot and sports areas. The park holds a Green Flag award.