The majority of the following locations can be found on the Ordnance Survey Landranger Series of Great Britain Sheet 66 (Edinburgh)

Arthur’s Seat – best visited in summer time or early autumn

Hunter’s Bog

Possibly the best place for Butterflies and Moths on Arthur's Seat. Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Grayling, Dark Arches, Cinnabar Moth, Burnet Moth, Mother Shipton's Moth and Blue-tailed Damselfly can all be seen in this area. Occasional sightings of Common Darter have also been made on the stream draining the bog into St Margaret's Loch as well as on the hillside to the south, and Toads can also be seen in good numbers at the right time of year. Birds in this area and the adjacent hillside by St Margaret's Loch include Stonechat, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, Grasshopper Warbler and Bullfinch.

The Dry Dam

The valley at Map Reference 327590,673440, just to the west of Whinny Hill and running down to the ruined St Anthony's chapel and St Margaret's Loch, is an excellent spot for Burnet Moths at its southern end. Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Copper and Common Blue Butterflies are also seen here. Bird species include Stonechat, Linnet, Whitethroat, Song Thrush and Blackbird. Weasel, Rabbits and Brown Hare also frequent this valley, and Weasel has also been seen in the the adjacent Hunter's Bog.

Top of Arthur’s Seat

A good place to see the Painted Lady butterflies on migration, along with Red Admiral, Grayling Butterflies and the occasional Common Blue. Birds seen here include Meadow Pipit and Carrion Crow, with Skylark, Linnet, and Jackdaw. Wheatears are occasionally seen on the adjoining Windy Knowe. It's also worth considering a walk down to the adjacent Dunsapie Loch to look for Common Blue Damselfly.

Gutted Haddie (Scots for “filleted haddock”- a fish with the bones taken out)

With light winds and late afternoon sunshine the hillside by the “Gutted Haddie” is an excellent spot for a variety of insect species. Species seen here include Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Grayling, Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and Comma. Slightly higher up as the thistles die away look out for more Grayling, Meadow Brown and some Burnett Moths.

Musselburgh – best visited during Autumn and Spring

Take the Lothian 26 or 44 buses going east from York Place. Get off the bus on Musselburgh High Street just after crossing the river. Walk down the east bank of the river to the river mouth and then follow the John Muir trail east to Levenhall ponds.

The river mouth is a good place to see swans and seabirds. The ponds at Levenhall are a good place to see wading birds such as Dunlin and Lapwing, although many other waders can be seen near the sea wall at low tide. Binoculars are needed to get good views of the birds.

Aberlady Bay – can be visited at any time of year

Take the First Bus 124 going east from York Place. Ask the driver for the Aberlady Bay Nature reserve car park. A very good place in winter time for geese, but be careful not to disturb breeding wading birds if you are visiting in spring and early summer. A good place to see insects in summer time and the flowers are nice. If you walk north through the nature reserve to Gullane Point you will see spectacular views of the coastline. Binoculars are needed to get good views of the birds.

Forth Islands (Bass Rock, Inch Colm, Isle of May) – best visited during Summer

While the Isle of May has the best selection of breeding birds you have to travel to Anstruther in order to get a boat there. However, a boat to the Bass Rock runs from North Berwick, and North Berwick can be reached by taking the First Bus 124 going east from York Place. You should contact the Tourist Information office in North Berwick about the sailing times to the Bass Rock. On the Bass Rock you will see Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kitiwakes and Fulmars. Puffins can be seen on the adjoining islands. Binoculars are useful but not essential. In bad weather consider visiting the Scottish Seabird Centre as an alternative to the boat. They have cameras located on the islands, and these will allow limited views of some of the bird species.

Inch Colm can be visited on a “Maid of the Forth” boat trip from South Queensferry. In order to get to South Queensferry take the First Bus 43 or 43a going west from Waterloo Place. This island is a place where you may have a good chance of seeing Seals and possibly even Dolphins from the boat. Binoculars are useful but not essential

Balerno – Malleny Gardens and the Water of Leith – best visited Spring to Autumn

Take the Lothian 44 bus going west from York Place. Get off the bus just after it turns of the main road into Balerno. The gardens are signposted and accessed by following the same side road as the on that accesses the Rugby Club.

The gardens are operated by the National Trust for Scotland, and are mainly famous for their roses, but the adjoining woodland is generally rich in woodland birds. Also, the location is on the edge of the Pentland Hills which makes the sighting of Pink-footed Geese in autumn a regular occurrence, and the surrounding woodlands are also frequented by Buzzards.

On leaving the gardens the Water of Leith walkway can be joined near the high-school. Time permitting this can be followed back to the city centre, but shorter walks can be terminated at Currie, Juniper Green, Colinton or Slateford. En-route you may see Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Hedge Sparrow.

In early summer time more open stretches of broken ground near Currie and Slateford are good places to see Orange Tipped Butterflies.

Bavelaw Reservoir – can be visited at any time of year

Take the Lothian 44 bus going west from York Place. Get off the bus where it terminates in Balerno at Cockburn Crescent. Walk south on the minor road for 1.5 kilometres past the SSPCA and Marchbank House, then turn left at the “Red Moss” signpost. The bridge over Bavelaw at Map Reference 164634 is a good place to view the reservoir, and a style 50 metres past the bridge, on the right, going south, provides access to an observation hide.

Red Moss and the edges of Bavelaw are good places in summer time to see a variety of Butterflies such as Small Copper, Peacock, Painted Lady and Red Admiral. Red Moss is also a breeding site for Common Hawker dragonflies and Common Lizard.

The reservoir itself is best in autumn and winter with Grey Lag and Pink-footed Geese, Gooseander, Little Grebe, Mallard, Widgeon, Teal, Moorhen and Lapwing. Buzzard and Kestrel also frequent the area.

The road running south from the reservoir provides access to the Pentland Hills them selves. Bird species seen here include Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Red Grouse, Stonechat, Kestrel, Buzzard and Wheatear. Raven and Peregrine Falcon may occasionally be seen.

Milkhall Pond – best visited in late summer and early autumn

Take the Lothian 37 or 37A bus going east from Princes Street. Get off the bus at Penicuick town centre and cross the river on the A701. Turn left onto the B6372 and then follow the B7026 and the A6094 through Howgate. Turn right at the Howgate Inn to Milkhall at Map Reference 243573. Milkhall is approximately 5 kilometres from Penicuik.

Milkhall should not be visited during spring and early summer as the breeding birds there will be disturbed, but in late summer and early autumn it is an excellent place for dragonflies and damselflies. Species seen here include Common Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter and Common Blue Damselfly. It is also a very good place for seeing Toads and Frogs.

Bird species include Little Grebe, Reed Bunting and Buzzard.

Cramond – can be visited at any time of year

Take the Lothian 41 bus going west at the Assembly Rooms on George Street. Get off the bus at its terminus at Cramond and follow the sign post on the right for Cramond Church.

The wildlife species of Cramond are very similar to Musselburgh, but the area has more general interest in terms of its history of occupancy since 10,000 BCE. Sites to visit include the remains of the Roman Camp, the Church and the raised beach to the south of the visitor’s car park. There are also the remains of harbour facilities on the River Almond between the Yacht club and the wear.