Mr G and I took Robbie, our Robin, to the Cammo Estate to meet his woodland friends. The estate sits on the west side of Edinburgh and is known as Edinburgh’s first “Country Park”. The estate was established in the 1700s by John Menzies, who later sold the estate to the Watson family in 1710. The estate passed through different families and owners over the years.
Avenue of Trees
This 85-acre estate boasts one of Edinburgh's oldest avenues of trees. The line of lime trees leading up to the main house's former location is still standing, offering a dramatic, almost cinematic entry into the estate grounds.
The estate has some rare plant species due to its age and history, including ancient yew trees, bluebells, and wild garlic.
Cammo House
John Menzies built Cammo House around 1693. The house, was a stately home of Georgian design. The estate passed through several hands over the years, with the last private owner being Percival Maitland-Tennent. The estate was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1975, who feued it to the Council in 1979. In 1977, two fires destroyed much of the main building, leaving only ruins and by 1980 the house was partially demolished. Sadly, only the foundations of the house remain today.
Canal
Remnants of an artificial canal and a stone bridge remain in the park, adding to its historic charm.
Pond
Cammo has a pond that was originally built as part of the estate's ornamental gardens. Though it was once a feature of leisure and beauty for estate owners, it has now been reclaimed by nature and is popular with visitors who enjoy its peaceful, reflective setting.
The Stables
The stables were built by James Watson, who was also responsible for the Water Tower. Some of these outbuilding possibly housed other animals such as pigs.
The Water Tower
The water tower is one of the estate’s unique landmarks, which was once used to supply water to the house and surrounding gardens.
Final Comments
It’s widely believed that Cammo Estate inspired the fictional "House of Shaws" in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped. Stevenson was known to visit Cammo as a child, and the eerie, atmospheric grounds may have left an impression on him.
Cammo Estate is accessible by walking trails and is open year-round, providing a scenic location for dog walkers, cyclists, and families.
We had a lovely day out and Robbie particularly enjoyed visiting his natural habitat that provides a home for various animals, such as deer, badgers, foxes, rabbits, and numerous bird species including owls and woodpeckers.
Watch the full video:
Read more about Robbie and his friends, a wonderful gift for your little one:
We also have accompanying colouring books:
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