Walks from Totleywells
Remember your wellies! The best walks around Totleywells are discovered with boots on, but there are ‘clean-ish feet' walks too. Use maps to discover your own, but here are some of our favourites.
Dundas Estate Walk. (Dogs on lead. About 5km)
There is a beautiful 6km route around Dundas Estate taking in the castle and the lock with its Boat House. You may even see the grazing lamas and Aberdeen Angus herds.
Come out the main gate and head down the road past Stewarton Polo Yard. The road bends sharply to the left at the next corner - here you can either stick to the road or cut past the cottages. The cottages are on your right, pass them keeping them to your left, and cut straight through a couple of fields via the track and you’ll find yourself on the estate roads. Head to the right and the track will take you around the beautiful estate in a circular walk.
If you stick to the road, you head left at the bend, and right at the next bend.
You’ll then come to a gateway on your right with a little white lodge at it - this is the back entrance to Dundas Estate. Turn in here and take the tarmac road up to the next corner, keep heading straight and at the paddocks take the track up to the right, head up the hill and get the hill part over at the beginning of your walk.
The stony track bends to the right and takes you down the hill towards the beautiful lock and its boat house with swans, ducks and Canada geese, and the cliff reflecting in its waters.
Follow the tarmac road around the loch and you’ll head up a slope then take the left toward the castle. Head up the tarmac road, the castle will come into view (please be respectful that this is a private family estate and observe the signage). Turn right at the black metal fence and take the single track around toward the golf course. The path bends between the castle garden and the golf course.
You’ll pass between another black metal fence and a large rhododendron and cross the road straight over a tiny flat white painted roundabout.
Head down the hill now between the Rhododendrons and the paddocks. You’ll take a right after the hill.You’ll pass some houses and a track to the right but stay on the tarmac road and pass the paddocks on your left.
At the end of this road there’s a bit of a ruined walled garden and a lodge. Here you can either take a right back to the main road, or a left back up the stone track and cut past the cottages again if you took that option.
To Newton and the Fat Pheasant (about 1.5 miles)
Our local is The Fat Pheasant, an award winning gastro pub that’s a 30 minute walk (or 5 minute drive) situated 13-15 Main Street, Newton, EH52 6QE. They also offer a take away menu. 0131 629 8671
Please note it has limited opening hours so check before you head off in expectation of a pint!
Come out of the main gates, and take the road to the left.
Stay on this road, don’t turn left.
You’ll pass the houses and Totleywells Steadings cottages on your right.
There is an off-road path to Newton just after this - a track through a gate on your right (clean feet cannot be guaranteed, but it’s a lovely tracked walk taking you to Newton).
If you stay on the tar road, you’ll come to the end of the road.
Duntarvie Castle ruin is straight ahead, but you are turning to the right.
Follow the road B8020 all the way to Newton and turn right and you’ll find the pub in the middle of the village.
The Outlander Walk To Hopetoun Estate (long walk of 10k +)
Come out of the main gates, and take the road to the left.
Stay on this road, don’t turn left.
You’ll pass the houses and Totleywells Steadings cottages on your right.
There is an off-road path to Newton just after this - a track through a gate on your right (clean feet cannot be guaranteed, but it’s a lovely tracked walk taking you to Newton).
If you stay on the tar road, you’ll come to the end of the road.
Duntarvie Castle ruin is straight ahead, but you are turning to the right.
Follow the road B8020 all the way to Newton
Once you get to the main road A904, you cross over and head down Abercorn Road
At the very end of the road you’ll turn left (you can see all of these roads on Google maps)
Follow this road, you’ll eventually see Deer Park on your right, you can wander in there and see the deer herds
Further along the road you’ll come to the picturesque Abercorn church which features in the Outlander movies, and to the left of here you’ll see an entrance into the John Muir Trust walk to Blackness Castle which is another nice walk for another day.
Further along the road you’ll come to Midhope Castle, which is also in the Outlander movies.
Carry on after this back up the main road A904, walk along the path to your left towards Newton, then cross the road at the sign for Duntarvie, this road will lead you back to where you started.
Walks with Forth bridge and coast views
The South Queensferry to Cramond shore walk, takes in some brilliant highlights along the way - link to full walk info below.
Hawes Inn – https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/scotland-northern-ireland/thehawesinnsouthqueensferry#/
Hound Point Headland – From the headland, you can see Inchcolm Island and the old abbey (you can take boat trips there from Hawes Pier). Brilliant views of the Forth Bridge and you’ll spot seals and nesting seabirds, maybe even a dolphin or porpoise if you’re lucky..
Barnbougle Castle & Dalmeny House - follow the John Muir Way as the designated route through the estate. It is a busy working farm with free-roaming cattle and sheep so all dogs must be kept on leads.
Eagle Rock – near to Drum Sands.
The walk continues up the Almond to Cramond Brig approx 4.5 miles, finishing in the picturesque hamlet of Cramond with its small sandy beach.
At low tide, you can wander across the causeway to visit Cramond Island.
A walk like no other…
The Forth Bridges Trail is a circular 5 mile route which you can do as much or as little of as you fancy. (You take the train across the bridge to complete the circle!)
Around the trout farm to Newton Village (wellie walk)
We’ve put this walk on Felt to allow you to follow the map there, it takes you on an off-road (sometimes soft underfoot) walk out of the fields of Totleywells, around the Hopetoun Trout Farm, then up a woodland and field track to the village of Newton. A lovely peaceful walk all off-road for around 6km. Click on the map below to link with Felt for a map of the route.
Dog Friendly Totleywells and the surrounding area.
We are dog people at Totleywells, however there are strict rules for our lovely doggos. Firstly, dogs are not allowed on furniture and must be kept downstairs in the hard flooring areas. You are asked to bring your own dog bowls and dog beds and ensure that all hair or dirt is well cleaned up for the comfort of future guests. We would ask you to keep on top of poo picking in the garden and dispose of the poo bags responsibly and considerately.
For insurance purposes and the safety of our riders, it is important that all dogs are very well controlled, on a lead at all times on the yard. If there are riders/horses coming towards you, please stay well out of their way and ensure your dog can’t lunge at the horses as they may kick out or endanger our handlers.
If your dog has good recall, you can walk your dog off lead in the fields outwith the yard boundaries, but they must be on a lead around Dundas Estates and the other estates.