Edinburgh has three very different Wigwam bases, and that's exactly the point. Mortonhall puts you 30 minutes from Princes Street on a direct bus route, perfect for the festivals, the city and a proper Scottish adventure. Hilly Cow sits in the West Lothian countryside with sweeping Pentland Hills views and optional hot tub glamping. And Lost Shore Surf Resort is something else entirely: a world-class inland surf resort at Newbridge, 20 minutes west of the city, with luxury lodges, a wave pool, sauna and spa studio. Whether you're here for a festival, a family break, or something genuinely out of the ordinary, there's a Wigwam base near Edinburgh for it.
Lost Shore Surf Resort is one of Scotland's most distinctive places to stay. Located at Newbridge, just 20 minutes west of Edinburgh city centre, the resort is built around a world-class inland wave pool, meaning you can surf in Scotland regardless of weather, tides or swell. Alongside the waves, the resort offers a sauna experience, a spa studio with restorative treatments, waterfront dining and scenic walks around the site. Accommodation ranges from compact pods for two up to four and five-bedroom lodges sleeping eight, all with ensuite bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and outside decking. It works equally well as a surf-and-stay break, a luxury family getaway, or a genuinely different Edinburgh city break base.
Set within a 200-acre country estate in Midlothian, Mortonhall Wigwams are the ideal base for exploring Edinburgh. Just a 15-minute drive or a 20-minute bus ride from the city centre, they offer heated wooden cabins that are comfortable, affordable and open year round. Mortonhall is a favourite for Edinburgh Fringe accommodation in summer and Hogmanay breaks at New Year. Book early if you're visiting in August or December.
Thirty minutes west of Edinburgh in beautiful West Lothian, Hilly Cow sits on Leyden Farm with views across the Forth Valley and Pentland Hills. It's the most rural of our three Edinburgh-area sites, far enough from the city to feel like a proper escape and close enough to make day trips effortless. Several pods come with optional hot tubs, making it a popular choice for couples breaks and family glamping near Edinburgh. Dogs are welcome.
Edinburgh punches well above its weight as a year-round destination, and staying on a Wigwam site gives you the best of both worlds: the energy of the city when you want it, and peace and space to decompress at the end of the day.
Summer is headlined by the Edinburgh Fringe, the International Festival, the Military Tattoo and the Book Festival, together bringing a head-spinning mix of theatre, music, comedy, art and performance to every corner of the city for three weeks in August. Both Mortonhall and Lost Shore are within 20–25 minutes of the Fringe venues. Winter brings Hogmanay, one of the world's great New Year celebrations, and Edinburgh Christmas markets from late November. Mortonhall is the most practical base for Hogmanay, as the bus route means you can join the celebrations without worrying about a car. And with Edinburgh boasting over 22 festivals a year, there's rarely a bad time to visit.
On days between festivals there's no shortage of things to fill. Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Botanic Gardens are all essential. For views, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill and Corstorphine Hill reward the climb. Edinburgh Zoo, home to the UK's only giant pandas, is a firm favourite for families staying at Hilly Cow or Mortonhall.
From Lost Shore, you have something most Edinburgh visitors don't: surf sessions on a world-class wave pool, a spa and sauna on your doorstep, and waterfront dining, all without leaving the site. It's a full day's activity in itself, and a useful counterpoint after busy festival days in the city.
For the more adventurous, Edinburgh and its surroundings offer cycling trails, sea kayaking from the East Lothian coast, paddleboarding on the Firth of Forth, and easy access to the Pentland Hills for walking. The rest of Scotland is also on your doorstep: the Highlands, the Borders, Loch Lomond and St Andrews are all within a few hours.
Wigwam Holidays operates all three Edinburgh-area sites directly, which means you book with us and get the best available price with no agency fees, no commissions and no middleman. All bookings come with our Price Guarantee: if you find a lower price elsewhere, we'll match it.
Browse Mortonhall, Hilly Cow and Lost Shore above, or use the search and filter tools to find the right fit for your trip. Whether it's a couple's escape, a family holiday, a dog-friendly break or a surf resort stay unlike anything else in Scotland, your Edinburgh base is here.
All three Wigwam sites near Edinburgh are within easy reach of the city. Mortonhall is just a 15-minute drive from the city centre and sits on a main bus route, putting you about 20 minutes from Princes Street. Lost Shore Surf Resort is around 20 minutes west by car from the city centre, just off the A89 at Newbridge. Hilly Cow in West Lothian is around 30 minutes by car, with sweeping views of the Forth Valley and Pentland Hills.
Absolutely, and it's one of the best ways to do it. Mortonhall is open year round and sits on a direct bus route into the city, making it ideal festival accommodation. You get a quiet, comfortable bolthole away from the city buzz, and you can be in the heart of the Fringe in under 25 minutes. Lost Shore is a great car-based option if you want to combine festival days with spa, sauna and surfing evenings. Book early, as our Edinburgh sites fill up fast during August.
Yes, dogs are welcome across all three sites. Mortonhall, Hilly Cow and Lost Shore all accept four-legged guests (note: some specific lodge types at Lost Shore are pet-free, so check the individual unit when booking). Use the 'Dogs Allowed' filter above to narrow your search.
Yes. Hilly Cow in West Lothian offers glamping pods with optional hot tubs. Lost Shore Surf Resort has a sauna experience and a dedicated spa studio offering restorative treatments: a proper resort-style wind-down after a day in Edinburgh or on the waves. Check availability for each on their individual listing pages.
You can, and it's not what most people expect. Lost Shore Surf Resort at Newbridge is home to a world-class inland wave pool, making it one of the most unusual stays near Edinburgh. Whether you're an experienced surfer or a complete beginner, you can book surf sessions alongside your stay at the resort. It's around 20 minutes west of the city centre by car.
Edinburgh in winter is spectacular, and all three Wigwam sites are open year round. Hogmanay is one of the world's great New Year celebrations and Mortonhall is one of the few glamping options close enough to reach by bus. Lost Shore's spa and sauna make it particularly well suited to winter breaks. Prices across all sites are typically lower outside peak summer season.
All three sites work well for families. Mortonhall is set within a 200-acre country estate with a children's play area and easy bus access to Edinburgh Zoo, Dynamic Earth and the National Museum of Scotland. Hilly Cow has open countryside and Pentland Hills views. Lost Shore adds something genuinely different: a wave pool and waterfront resort that makes for a full day's activity in itself, with lodges sleeping up to eight.
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