Dog Days AwayGOOD DAYS. TOGETHER.Midlothian · Scotland · Town · Countryside
Dalkeith offers an estate-walking break with several trail choices inside the country park. Both selected hotels have Lasswade addresses, so plan a separate journey to the park. Melville Castle gives a country-house setting and the Melville Inn a pub-and-rooms alternative. The park’s short Wilderness route and longer North Woods trail are choices within one estate, making it easy to scale the outing to your dog’s energy.
Policies researched 27 September 2026 · Check directly before booking
A BASE FOR YOUR BREAK
Dog access can depend on the room or accommodation you choose. Confirm the exact dog arrangements before you pay.
Melville Castle allows up to two dogs for £20 each per night in prebooked selected rooms. Melville Inn permits one small or medium dog for £15 per night and requires direct Innkeeper’s Collection booking. Confirm the exact room, dinner arrangement and supervision before choosing; the castle’s room lists differ between pages.
Gilmerton Road · Lasswade
A country-house hotel on Gilmerton Road, Lasswade, providing a separate base for a Dalkeith park outing.
The dog detailsUp to two dogs, £20 each nightly; prebook selected room. Operator room lists differ, so confirm allocation. Restaurant excluded; confirm other meal space and supervision.
Book directly with the property
Confirm your dog, exact accommodation, minimum stay and total charge before paying.
Melville Nursery · Lasswade
Rooms at Melville Nursery in Lasswade, beside the Vintage Inns pub. Book through the direct dog-stay route.
The dog detailsOne small or medium dog, £15 nightly. Dog stays must be booked directly with Innkeeper’s Collection; confirm meal space and supervision.
Book directly with the property
Confirm your dog, exact accommodation, minimum stay and total charge before paying.
GOOD DAYS OUT, TOGETHER
Choose the park’s shorter Yellow Trail when a modest outing suits you. Check the current trail map and access hours before setting out.
Leads in car parks, Restoration Yard courtyard and Palace Field until across Montagu Bridge, and near livestock. Dogs excluded from Fort Douglas.
Official visitor information ↗Choose the Green Trail for a longer woodland outing only if its six-kilometre distance suits your dog. It is an alternative to the shorter trail, not an essential extra.
Keep dogs controlled and heed farm-related closures. Do not assume a walkable link between Old Oak Wood and Hermitage: the operator says none remains.
Official visitor information ↗AN UNHURRIED COUPLE OF DAYS
Arrive in the agreed dog room and make the evening food arrangements. Allow for the journey to Dalkeith rather than expecting the park outside the hotel.
Select the shorter Wilderness route or longer North Woods walk. Check park hours and posted lead rules before starting.
A suggested plan, not a booked itinerary. Adapt it to your dog, the weather and current access.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Pick a route for the conditions; completing both is unnecessary.
The old link between Old Oak Wood and Hermitage is no longer walkable.
No. The two stays in this guide are in Lasswade: Melville Castle is on Gilmerton Road, and The Melville Inn is at Melville Nursery. Treat them as nearby bases rather than central Dalkeith accommodation, and plan transport to the town’s trails accordingly.
Sources: Melville Castle dog-friendly stays · The Melville Inn accommodation
Melville Castle currently lists up to two dogs at £20 per dog per night, in named dog-friendly room types that must be pre-booked. Dogs are allowed in hotel areas except the Ballroom Restaurant; the hotel says guests dining with a dog can be seated in the ante dining room. Confirm the room allocation directly.
Sources: Melville Castle dog-friendly stays · Melville Castle rooms and dog policy
The Melville Inn’s room page allows one small-to-medium well-behaved dog for £15 per night, with dog bookings made directly when reserving the room. Its pub policy welcomes dogs in the bar or outside, on a lead. This differs from Melville Castle’s two-dog allowance and higher fee.
Sources: The Melville Inn accommodation · The Melville Inn dog-friendly pub
The Yellow/Wilderness Trail is under 2 km, about 20 minutes and relatively flat. The Old Oak Wood Trail is 2.4 km, but the operator gives no time estimate; it partly closes over winter. Dogs may use it, but keep them and dog waste away from the old trees, fallen trunks and limbs because of protected beetles.
Sources: Dalkeith Country Park walking trails
No. Dalkeith Country Park’s FAQ says dogs are not allowed inside Fort Douglas. Dogs may use the wider park trails, but the park requires leads in its car parks, Restoration Yard courtyard and Palace Field until across Montagu Bridge, and near livestock. Follow signs and keep dogs controlled elsewhere.
Sources: Dalkeith Country Park FAQs
Researched from accommodation operators, property listings and visitor information linked above on 27 September 2026. Prices and policies can change; a stated dog fee is not a room quote or a promise of availability. We have not personally inspected these places. Our day plans are editorial suggestions.
Read our research approach →