Edinburgh With Dog In Tow

For those of you who travel with your pups, here’s a breakdown on our experience of puppy-friendly Edinburgh.

Veterinary Services
Our Edinburgh vet (just down the street from our pet-friendly guest house) was lovely. They helped us get a pet passport. You can find them at:

Dundas Veterinary Group
99 Dundas Street
Edinburgh, Midlothian EH3 6SD
Phone: 0131 557 1819

Dog Food, Treats, and Supplies
We shopped at Dofos Pet Centre. They had tons of hypoallergenic foods, as well as a variety of treats, and two darling shop cats (well, they were darling to me, but according to the staff, one of them is a biter…so don’t take my word for it). You can find Dofos at:

4-5 Blenheim Place London Road
Edinburgh EH7 5JH

Pet-Friendly Guest House
After spending a month here, I’ve decided not to recommend our guesthouse. Nothing was horribly wrong, but I think you can find better. The noise level can get a bit high, with a main road not far away and a crowd of raucous birds that like to hang out just next to our skylight. Also, the bathrooms are shared, which means that if you have a filthy housemate (like the construction crew that’s currently renovating the place), you’re subject to the filth. And the place often smells strongly of smoke, which bothers me a bit. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of places in Edinburgh that accept pets. In fact, I found my guesthouse on Edlets.com and there were about 10 other dog-friendly options in my budget. The one we are in is called Sunny Attic Room. As I said, I don’t recommend it.

Pups on Trains
To my delight, there was no extra charge for taking Luna on the trains up here. I mostly kept her in her carrier, but I noticed several other people with dogs on the train just on their leads, so I’m guessing that’s okay.

Pups in Pubs
So many places here are dog-friendly, but if you are looking for a sure thing, this website keeps track of pubs that love your puppies (all over the UK, actually, not just in Edinburgh!). Our favorite is The Cumberland, just off Dundonald by our favorite park, Scotland Yard.

Our Favorite Walks
Edinburgh is a perfect spot to walk your dog, as the city is intertwined with lush, green gardens, parks, and pathways. Some of our favorites are:
– The park beside Scotland Yard Play Park, just off Royal Crescent.
– The pathways that start at Scotland Yard Play Park, just off Royal Crescent (they go all the way out to the waterfront and they’re stunning).
–  The Water of Leith Walkway, which runs for miles through the city (and intersects the pathways above). Make sure you walk the stretch by Stockbridge…it’s absolutely stunning. And keep in mind that the pathway sometimes is intersected by roads. To keep from getting lost off the path, take a peek at (and possibly print out) this site.

A Not-So-Pet-Friendly Spot
Sadly, the Botanical Gardens, right down the street from our guest house, does not allow dogs.

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