Dawn Walks at Cramond: A Dogs Paradise

2025-01-05

Discovering the magic of early morning walks along the Firth of Forth with my four-legged companion.

Written by: Sparky

There’s something transcendent about watching the sun rise over the Firth of Forth, especially when you have a tail-wagging companion by your side. This morning, we set out at 6:15 AM, just as the first hints of orange began painting the eastern sky.

The Route

Our usual path takes us from the Cramond village car park, past the whitewashed houses that cluster near the old harbour. The tide was out, revealing the causeway to Cramond Island - though we stick to the mainland path, which winds along the shoreline towards Silverknowes.

The dog (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent) spent the first ten minutes investigating every single smell along the path. I’m convinced there’s an entire social network of scent-messages left by the local canine population, and we were catching up on overnight developments.

Wildlife Encounters

Around the bend near the old Roman fort site, we spotted a heron standing motionless in the shallow water. The dog froze mid-sniff, one paw raised, staring at this peculiar statue-bird. The heron, unimpressed, eventually spread its massive wings and glided further down the shore.

We also encountered:

• Three oystercatchers performing their piping alarm calls
• An absurdly confident robin that hopped within two meters of us
• What might have been a seal bobbing in the water (or possibly just a particularly round rock)

The Perfect Morning

By the time we looped back to Cramond village, the sun had fully risen, gilding the ancient tower of the old kirk. The dog was satisfactorily exhausted, tongue lolling, ready for breakfast and a proper nap.

These morning walks remind me why we moved to Scotland. Where else can you combine history, stunning coastal views, and quality dog time all before 8 AM?

Stats for the nerds:

• Distance: 5.2 km
• Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (including extensive sniffing time)
• Temperature: 4°C, light breeze
• Sticks thrown into the sea: 23
• Sticks retrieved: 18 (77% success rate)