Pentland Fells Route 2
This classic walk takes in five of the Pentland Hills’ finest summits and offers incredible views across Edinburgh and beyond, says Keith Fergus.
edinburgh’s fells at the best time of year
The Pentland Hills, which rise on the outskirts of Edinburgh, dominate the landscape of the Lothians. Set within the Pentland Hills Regional Park, this rolling range of peaks offers superb walking and the routes along the southern side of the park perfectly illustrate the variety of what is on offer; there is a real sense of wildness only a few miles from Scotland’s capital city.
The tops of Scald Law, Carnethy Hill, Turnhouse Hill, and East and West Kip are all visited on a route that grants a wonderful insight into why walking in the Pentlands is such a joy. These hills are by no means the biggest in Scotland (Scald Law, at 579m, is the highest point) but there are some steep ascents. Any exertion, however, is very much worth the effort as the views are some of the best in the country, extending across Lothian to East Lothian, Fife, the Scottish Borders and the South Highlands. The route also utilises the Kirk Road, one of the most historic passes in Scotland.
Away from the high tops the walk visits the reservoirs of Glencorse and Loganlea, two lovely bodies of water that provide marvellous views of the surrounding landscape. This contrast of topography also grants the opportunity to spot a vast array of birdlife, with buzzards, kestrels, cormorants, swans, goldeneyes, herons, tufted ducks and migrating geese among those that may be seen during the year.