A small, Falkirk council run (I think), farm park. There's a small collection of well kept animals (including a crazy rampant bull 😅💀), a nice courtyard with facilities including a cafe, serving good coffee and a nice breakfast/brunch selection at fair prices. Outside the courtyard is a children's playpark. All free, except a small car park charge of £2+ pounds depending on how long you stay.

Great place , plenty place to park your car , a lot of pets and I enjoyed with my little one very well..i would reccomend this place. Btw. Amazing playground keeped clean :)

Great that its free to get in and parking is very reasonable compared to other places. £2 for two hours and £4 for the day. I did find some of the enclosures quite small for the animals, especially the baby goats. Also very sad they dont have donkeys anymore. Overall an ok outing but not sure if we would go again

# Newparks Farm, Edinburgh Newparks Farm is a demonstration farm located within Muiravonside Country Park near Falkirk, close to Edinburgh. The farm serves as one of the key facilities within the 170-acre country park. ## **Historical Background** The history of Newparks Farm dates back to the early 18th century. After John MacLeod purchased the Muiravonside Estate in 1724, this farm functioned as the home farm, located 380 meters north of the main house. At that time, the farm was situated across a public road and served as an important agricultural facility for the estate. During the 19th century, Charles Stirling owned the estate and promoted agricultural improvement projects, with Newparks Farm being part of this modernization process. Stirling actively introduced innovative agricultural techniques, including ceramic drainage pipes and establishing a water-powered sawmill for timber market expansion. ## **Current Operations** ### **Animal Conservation Facility** After Falkirk Council established the country park in 1978, the Newparks Farm buildings were transformed into a **rare animal conservation facility**. The farm currently houses various animals including: - **Highland cattle** - **Shetland ponies** - **Donkeys** - **Various breeds of sheep** - **Tamworth pigs** - **Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs** - **Chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs** - **Ducks and geese** - **Dairy cows** ### **Visitor Facilities** The farm's stables have been converted into a **visitor center** equipped with exhibition rooms, audiovisual facilities, and restrooms. A café opened in the stable complex in 1994, and in 2004, the old mill buildings were renovated into an outdoor recreation center. ## **Educational and Recreation Programs** Newparks Farm operates as an **educational demonstration farm** rather than a simple zoo. Open daily, it provides families with direct encounters with farm animals. Educational programs for children are particularly active and well-developed. The farm area also features a **sculpture trail** and **children's playground**, making it a comprehensive family destination. ## **Accessibility and Operations** Muiravonside Country Park, where Newparks Farm is located, is approximately 30 minutes west of Edinburgh. The visitor center is open daily from April to September, while the farm itself remains open year-round for animal observation. Newparks Farm represents a successful transformation from a historic farm into a modern educational and conservation facility, preserving Scotland's agricultural heritage while providing meaningful experiences for the local community and visitors.

Brilliant place to take small kids to see some animals up close. No cost to visit the farm and only £1 to park the car for as long as you want.