The LOVE Gorgie Farm is a great place to bring your kids, especially small children, as it’s filled with small and friendly animals. Some of the animals you'll see along your trip to this urban farm include guinea pigs, calves, ferrets, goats, turkeys and so much more. There’s also a children’s play area where the kids can burn off some of their excitement from seeing the animals.
When it comes to being out with kids, it's often hard to judge how long visiting a place might take, but you should aim to spend at least an hour or 2 at the farm. In addition to the animals, the farm also offers a cafe, a venue hire location and educational programs. There are also special events, such as workshops, activities and pet boarding.
photo by Ariadnaroca1995 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
Highlights of LOVE Gorgie Farm
LOVE Gorgie Farm offers an Alpaca Trekking option, which is a 30-minute guided tour of the farm in which you hold the tether of an alpaca. Anyone over the age of 3 can partake in this activity, and it is 1 person per alpaca. This activity requires a fee, and you’ll need to book a spot in advance.
Make sure to check out the ferrets while you’re at the farm. These creatures make great pets and love to be cuddled as cats and dogs do, and they're also fun to watch run and play. They spend between 14 and 18 hours asleep, so if you want to see them at their most active, your best bet is to catch them early in the morning or around dusk.
photo by Swithun Crowe (CC BY 2.0) modified
History of LOVE Gorgie Farm
Until the 1930s, the site where LOVE Gorgie Farm is located was used as a waste depot. For a short time afterward, it was used for civil defense training during the war. It was then abandoned for quite a long time.
In 1977, a community group cleaned the run-down area and came up with ideas of what to build on the land. A group of concerned citizens believed that the green space should be kept in the city. It was agreed and Gorgie City Farm was built, opening in 1982. Gorgie City Farm renamed itself to LOVE Gorgie Farm when it reopened in February 2020, after the community raised funds to save it from liquidation.
photo by Thomas Nugent (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
Good to Know about LOVE Gorgie Farm
LOVE Gorgie Farm is a working farm that sells lambs, pork, eggs, vegetables and manure. They don't charge admission to tour and visit with the animals, though they do recommend a donation. They also have a food bank to help out the local community and offer professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority accredited programs.
Before visiting the LOVE Gorgie Farm, it’s recommended that you check out their website for useful information, like how to get there via automobile, bus, train and streetcar, as well as suggestions on the best places to park. The website also offers information on how you can get involved to help the farm or sponsor the animals.
photo by Swithun Crowe (CC BY 2.0) modified
LOVE Gorgie Farm in Edinburgh
Location: 51 Gorgie Rd, Edinburgh EH11 2LA, UK
Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 4:00 pm
Phone: +44 (0)131 337 4202
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