Pentland Hills - Scald Law from Carnethy Hill.

Stretching for some 24km from the suburbs of Edinburgh to the village of Carnwath in Lanarkshire, the steep-sided hills of the Pentlands dominate the A702 from Fairmilehead to Biggar. Sequestered by the ridge of Turnhouse Hill, Carnethy Hill and Scald Law on one side and Black Hill and Castlelaw Hill on the other, the only real glen of the Pentlands, Glencorse, or the Logan Glen, is a deep L-shaped valley which holds two reservoirs and a number of small houses. A walk across the hills south-east of this glen, followed by a walk through the glen itself, makes a fine day out from Edinburgh.

The ridge between Turnhouse Hill and West Kip comprises the highest tops in the Pentlands and offers extensive views. Some claim you can see Ben Nevis on a clear day but I suspect it would have to be an exceptionally clear day! The views extend as far as the unmistakable outline of the Bass Rock.

Close to the start of the walk is the site of the Battle of Rullion Green where, in 1666, a band of some 900 Covenanters were met by Royalist forces; many were killed, or were captured and either deported or hanged. Even further back, Bronze-Age man built his burial cairns and fortifications in these hills. Another ancient building, the fourteenth-century St Catherine's Chapel, is now, sadly, drowned under the waters of Glencorse Reservoir.

Park at Flotterstone on the A702. Pass the Flotterstone Centre, turn right onto the road and follow it until it begins to bear right. Leave the road here, go through a gate and cross the Glencorse Burn by the second bridge. Turn right onto a wide footpath and follow it up some moraines and onto the steep slopes of Turnhouse Hill. Climb steadily through a stand of larch and pine before the gradient eases slightly to traverse onto the ridge slightly south-west of Turnhouse Hill. A good, clear path now follows the ridge in a south-west direction over the two White Craig Heads and down to the Lawhead Burn below Carnethy Hill. Cross a fence beside the burn and climb steadily to the old Bronze-Age cairn on the summit of Carnethy Hill. From here a long gradual descent takes you down to the high point of the Old Kirk Road which crosses the ridge from Balerno to Penicuik. Cross another fence and climb steeply up the zigzagging path to the summit of Scald Law, at 579m the highest point in the Pentlands.

Descend again, bearing west, to another col before the short and sharp ascent of East Kip and West Kip. The ascent of these two tops is optional as a good path runs north-west from the col before East Kip, then turns north-east, down steeply into the narrow mouth of Green Cleugh. Turn right, pass the white house called The Howe and gain the tarmac road which runs north-east past Loganlea and Glencorse Reservoirs. Turn sharply right down the Glen and back to Flotterstone.

Route Summary

From the Flotterstone Centre, turn right and follow the road until it bears right. Leave the road, go through a gate and cross the Glencorse Burn by the second bridge. Turn right onto a wide path and follow it onto the slopes of Turnhouse Hill. Climb to the ridge slightly SW of Turnhouse Hill. A path follows SW over Carnethy Hill, Scald Law, East Kip and West Kip. From the col before East Kip a path runs to the NW before turning NE, and down into Green Cleugh. Turn right, pass a house called The Howe and gain the road which runs NE past the reservoirs before turning right down the Glen and back to Flotterstone.

Map: OS Sheet 66

Access Points: Flotterstone car park on the A702

Distance: 13.5km

Approx Time: 4-6 hours Grade: Moderate hill walk