East Highlands
15.3km/9½ miles 6 hours
1 NT232630 From Flotterstone Ranger Centre, where there is ample free parking, follow the woodland path that runs west, parallel to the Glencorse access road. When it emerges onto the road turn right and continue, keeping a watchful eye out for traffic. Keep on past a gate on the left (signposted for Scald Law), which is the return route, and climb gently along the road. It soon levels off and passes through a gate at Glen Cottage. 2 NT222636 From here a very pleasant section of walking heads along the northern shore of gorgeous Glencorse Reservoir, with the steep slopes of Turnhouse
Hill and Carnethy Hill ahead. Mallards, whooper swans and great crested grebes may well be seen out on the water. Beyond Glencorse Reservoir walk alongside the Logan Burn before the road climbs steeply to reach Loganlea Reservoir. Another attractive section of easy walking continues beside the reservoir with the outlook taking in East and West Kip. At the head of Loganlea go through a gate, follow a track past The Howe, after which swing left to cross an old stone bridge spanning the Logan Burn.
3 NT190620 Take the ‘Old Kirk Road for Penicuik’ path with a steep ascent rising south-east. The Kirk Road is an
ancient
drove route that historically also provided easier access for the residents of Bavelaw and Loganlea who wanted to attend church in Penicuik. In a while cross over a stile from where the path reaches a col in between Carnethy Hill and Scald Law. Here there is a great view of the northern Pentland Hills, including Caerketton and Allermuir Hill. Leave the Kirk Road by turning right through a gate for a sustained ascent, south-west along a clear path, to reach the summit of Scald Law, which stands 579m above sea-level and is the highest point of the route. Translating from Scots as ‘the scabbed hill’, a breathtaking panorama extends into the Scottish Borders and out to the southern Highlands.
4 NT192610 A good path then drops steadily in a westerly direction before rising onto East Kip. Another short descent then ascent leads to West Kip, its airy top providing perhaps the day’s best view with an exquisite panorama extending across the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
5 NT177605 Retrace steps over Scald Law and descend back to the Kirk Road. Keep straight on, from where a steady pull ascends north-east up the western slopes of Carnethy Hill, with Loganlea Reservoir way below. Approaching the top the gradient steepens a little and leads to Carnethy Hill’s 573m summit cairn. Stunning views open out across Midlothian, Fife and East Lothian, and over to Scald Law and Turnhouse Hill.
6 NT203619 Descend steeply from Carnethy Hill, the path cutting its course over heather-clad slopes. At a col keep on north-east for another stiff pull past a cairn. Beyond this, a final climb reaches Turnhouse Hill’s 506m top where a magnificent vista takes in much of the Regional Park, Traprain Law and the Lammermuir
Hills. 7 NT212626 An excellent track drops north-east across open hillside. In due course it narrows to a path and descends steeply east. Once beyond a pocket of woodland head downhill through a gate after which the path continues over an undulating little ridge down to a convergence of burns and two bridges. Take the left bridge over Glencorse Burn to a gate. Once through, turn right, follow a track via another gate then turn right back onto the Glencorse access road. Retrace your steps to the start.