Images free for personal non-commercial use only ©
Dave Henniker Pentland Hill Walks for bus users
Car owners can enjoy the freedom restraint of returning to the carpark. Bus users Don't have to retrace their steps or try to find circular routes. Check out the McEwan's Bus Timetable. (A bus passes Holy Corner about 9.45am.)
Recent walks have been recorded by GPS using Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 and exported to Google Fusion. There are currently 2 maps which can be zoomed and scrolled and switched from map view to satellite view:
1. GPS track of our 11.35 mile walk from Ninemileburn to Colinton via Harlaw.
2. Shorter, 9.7 mile walk via Loganlea & Glencorse to Colinton.
(First few yards inaccurate at Ninemileburn)
From Colinton you can get the 16 or 10 bus back to town. The 16 terminus at Westgarth Avenue is marked at the end.
Silverburn, Kirk Road, round Blackhill, Glencorse, Phantom's Cleugh, Bonaly, Capelaw, Allermuir, Swanston, Hunters Tryst
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This earlier walk was previously measured by satellite navigation using a Nokia N810 PDA as 18.6km (11.55 miles). This picture is a screen shot of my Google Earth measurements which are probably less accurate. | |
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The identical route as recorded by the Nokia N810. This is a screenshot of the complete screen. The route has been zoomed out to fit it all in. | |
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To get to the village of Silverburn on the A702, take the McEwan's bus. Cross to the Pentlands side of the main road and follow the footpath back towards Edinburgh. Less than 1km away ( near to the pictured spot) is a layby for cars and a sign. | |
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Balerno 6M Kirk Rd Sign 1280 x 854 276K |
This is the sign you're looking for. This view is looking back towards Silverburn. |
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This way... 1280 x 720 262K |
This area can be muddy. If you're wearing waterproof walking boots then there won't be a problem. Trainer shoes aren't advised for the hills. |
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Kirk
Road 8 1280 x 850 308K |
Climbing over the pass from the Silverburn side. These two more recent pictures were taken on a duller morning. |
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Same area looking back towards the A702 road. | |
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We moved a few metres off the Kirk Road path for a break and spotted this grouse amongst the heather. | |
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Beetle 1280 x 937 399K |
An example of smaller wildlife you may encounter is this black beetle. |
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Kirk
Road 6 to Logan Burn 1280 x 854 399K |
Facing west towards Green Cleugh, through which the Logan Burn meanders. The path leads upstream then curves through the cleugh (valley) eventually reaching a tarmac road to Balerno. |
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Kirk
Road 7 to Logan Burn 1280 x 854 388K |
This shot, taken a couple of minutes further down the path shows that it's a very popular route for walkers. Boots advised - trainers risky. |
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Logan
Burn from Kirk Road 1280 x 662 371K |
Zoomed in on the zigzags of the burn and two walkers on the path through Green Cleuch. This is part of the clockwise route round Black Hill. |
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Down beside the Logan Burn it's plain to see that the strata has been tilted by nearly 90 degrees. What was once horizontal under water is now vertical. An easy walk through Green Cleugh takes you to the next part. | |
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The main path that the cyclist is on leads to Balerno. The right fork leads up to the north west slopes of Black Hill. This path is very narrow and steep for a while before it levels out and curves clockwise around Black Hill. Eventually it joins the road at the western tip of Glencorse Reservoir after passing Bell's Hill on the left. | |
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The path round Black Hill is fairly easy and affords views to reservoirs. The water level was very low when we passed this way in May 2010. Some walkers are taking advantage and exploring the reservoir bottom. | |
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As seen from the path down to Blacksprings. Visit the Threipmuir page for more images. | |
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It looks like the reservoir has been drained for some remedial work. | |
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These four photos taken in May 2010 as part of a walk from Silverburn to Swanston. Bells Hill is on the left, Allermuir and Carnethy are directly ahead. Blackhill is on the right of the valley or Cleugh. | |
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A couple of photos of rust - iron is oxidised and hydrogen is released into the atmosphere. | |
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A closer view of the rusting drum. It will disappear eventually. All things must pass. Rust never sleeps. (Two musical quotes) | |
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Glad to see more Highland Cattle in another part of the Pentlands. Previously they've been seen at Swanston. Blackhill and Dens Cleugh are in the background. It can be muddy on the descent to the road between Loganlea and Glencorse reservoirs. | |
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Glencorse
Causeway IR 1280 x 851 341K |
The private road from Flotterstone to Loganlea runs over this causeway at the western tip of Glencorse reservoir. The small area to the left (west) of the road in this infrared picture is frequently dry. The water is high in May 2006 unlike in the 0508 pictures above taken in August 2005. |
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On your way across the causeway, look to your left for this view. | |
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A closer look at the dyke and the wire fence on top of it. | |
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Some trees seem to survive partial immersion quite well. More pictures on the Glencorse page. | |
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Looking at the main part of the reservoir in the direction of Flotterstone. Castlelaw is the hill on the left. | |
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Lambing 1280 x 871 354K |
The path leads to Maiden's Cleugh or Phantom's Cleugh. To continue to Colinton go through the gate and take the right turning after a minute or two. |
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WD sign 2012 1280 x 850 262K |
You'll pass this sign on the way up the hill from Glencorse. More photos on the Phantoms Cleugh page. |
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Capelaw View nw03 1280 x 898 253K |
If you take a left turn past Bonaly Reservoir the path takes you down to Bonaly Car Park. If you continue to the next left turn there's this way down to the Polo Field and the 16 bus at Colinton, or the path to Dreghorn. |