Walk: Carnethy Hill - Pentlands ridge & reservoirs

Midlothian | Pentland Hills | Half day walk | ★★★

[Carnethy Hill from Turnhouse Hill]

Between the summits of Turnhouse Hill and West Kip, the southern edge of the Pentland Hills takes the form of a shapely ridge. On the sunny side, the Midlothian plains stretch towards the Lammermuir and Moorfoot Hills; on the northern side, grassy slopes fall away to an intimate cleft carved by the Logan Burn. Boasting two reservoirs and just a handful of farms and cottages, this fertile valley is perhaps the most charming part of the hill range - with rolling hills blocking any hint of Edinburgh, 10 miles distant - though the tarmac surface of the route along the burn is a little tiring for walkers' feet. The route below only traverses the eastern half of the ridge - but an extension using part of our Scald Law and the Kips route could be incorporated into a lengthier round.

[Loganlee Reservoir]

Location & info

📌 Walk: Carnethy Hill - Pentlands ridge & reservoirs ★★★
Start / finish at Crawley Cottages, just off A702 2 mi north of Penicuik, G.R.: NT 233631 ///shuttle.modest.blown
🚌 Bus stops on A702 | 🚗 Car park

▶ 11 km / 7 mi | ▲ 490 m | ⌚ Half a day
Features: △ Turnhouse Hill (506 m); △ Carnethy Hill (573 m); Loganlee Reservoir; Glencorse Reservoir
⬤ Moderate | Hill paths for higher outward route, then level tarmac for most of the return.

Route: Car park - Turnhouse Hill - Carnethy Hill - The Howe - Loganlea Reservoir - Glencorse Reservoir - path through The Glen - start


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On our visit

Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, rabbits, grasshoppers; cuckoo, skylarks, many pied & grey wagtails, thrushes, grey herons, swans.
Weather: Mist lifting mid morning to leave hazy sunshine. Very warm, with temperatures reaching mid twenties Celsius.

Chronological photo guide

[Woodland trail near the car park]

[Early fog lifting]

[First view of the ridge (taken at the end of the walk)]

[Ascent to Turnhouse Hill]

[Lamb]

[Glencorse Reservoir from Turnhouse Hill]

[Looking back over Midlothian]

[Turnhouse Hill]

[Turnhouse Hill]

[Carnethy Hill from Turnhouse Hill]

[Carnethy Hill & Loganlee Reservoir]

[Bealach between Turnhouse Hill & Carnethy Hill]

[Looking back to Turnhouse Hill]

[Part of Carnethy Hill's huge cairn]

[Loganlee Reservoir with Black Hill beyond]

[View ahead to Scald Law]

[Descent towards Green Cleugh]

[Loganlee Reservoir]

[Loganlee Reservoir]

[Moth]

[The return is along a quiet, tarmac road]

[Glencorse Reservoir]

[Heron]

[Glencorse Reservoir with Turnhouse Hill beyond]

[Returning through The Glen misses out the last bit of road walking]

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