Edinburgh, Scotland is a vibrant city known for its rich history, its Harry Potter connections and some of the friendliest people in the world. What it’s not known for is an abundance of Highland Cows – or, as the locals charmingly refer to them, Highland Coos. Those adorable, shaggy creatures, with their long horns and even longer hair, are more readily found a few hours away in the Scottish Highlands, where they (and, therefore, their name) originated. In Edinburgh, they’re more likely to be seen adorning tea towels and in stuffed animal form in every souvenir shop.

So, although I’ve been to Scotland a number of times, I’ve never had the chance to visit the Scottish Highlands to see the cows. When my friends and I scored tickets for two Taylor Swift concerts in Edinburgh this summer, I was excited to return to the city and determined to somehow see the cows.

Because we only had three days there, though, we didn’t get to do much that wasn’t concert related. We attended the Taylor’s Version brunch at Brewhemia, which was a blast. This surprisingly lovely gathering spot is Edinburgh’s only beer palace, boasting a dozen copper tanks. The Caesar Schnitzel was a marvel and we had a good laugh with our server, who couldn’t believe we were ordering pints of Diet Coke.

We stayed at The Roseate Edinburgh, which was luxurious yet homey and was filled with Swifties. Best of all, it was a 10 minute walk to Murrayfield Stadium so we were able to get home quickly after the concerts. The hotel played Taylor Swift songs all weekend and guests gathered on the lawn outside to sing along and trade friendship bracelets. We gave bracelets to locals, including our gruff but hilarious cab driver, who was visibly touched and said he would wear it proudly. It was just a magical weekend, thanks to the wonderful people of Edinburgh.

But I still wanted to see the Highland Cows.

Someone mentioned that there were Highland Cows at Swanston Farm – a short ride from our hotel – and we were off. Located in Pentland Hills Regional Park and home to a fold (a group of Highland Cows is called a fold, not a herd), Swanston Farm features 300 acres of hill land that enable the cows to wander naturally. They also make it more challenging for people to actually see them, which is a good thing so the cattle can roam free. My friend hiked up 1400 feet to see them but only got a glimpse of one or two.

Luckily, even if you don’t want to make the trek up, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see Thelma and Louise, who hang out in a fenced area close to the restaurant. As sassy as their namesakes, the two beauties were apparently having a little bit of a row when we visited and refused to look at each other until one eventually decided to reach out and declare a truce.

They were a delight to watch and we just wanted to hug them although we resisted. Some fun facts we learned about the Highland Cows at Swanston Farm are that they have occasionally jumped over the fence and onto the golf course – fore! – and that they range in age from five to 12 years old and weigh between 1100 and 1800 pounds.

You’re welcome to visit the cows for free but are requested not to touch or feed them. Instead, you’ll want to feed yourself at Swanston Brasserie.

The farm restaurant has an extensive menu, including a tempting selection of cakes and tray-bakes. I had delicious fish and chips while taking in the magnificent views.

Swanston Farm has been around for 35 years and, in addition to the restaurant, golf courses and driving range, they also offer holiday cottages so you can stay and experience the best of both city and country.

Although I still want to visit the Scottish Highlands, I’m so happy I got to finally see the Highland Cows without leaving beautiful Edinburgh. I even ordered a pattern to crochet a Highland Cow so remind me of a truly special day in Scotland. As Taylor Swift sings, “It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well.”