Pentland Hills

3 Reservoirs, A702, Allermuir, Black Hill

	3 Reservoirs 1024 x 768 155K	Photographed from the north side of Capelaw Hill. Bonaly Reservoir dominates the picture but Threipmuir and Harperrig reservoirs are both visible in the distance.
	A702 1024 x 768 71K	Between Silverburn and Ninemileburn on the A702 road is Eightmileburn and the signposted footpath to Balerno. This is the view south towards the Moorfoots on a misty November morning.
	A702 Hillend 1280 x 851 229K	The Pentland Hills as seen from Straiton Village on the A701. The red and white bus is the Lothian Buses service 15 on the A702 Biggar Road. Up above, the sun shines on the T woods above Lothianburn Golf Course.
	Allermuir from Home 02 1280 x 727 189K	Photographed on the 1st of April from my living room window - which is 7km distant. The dry stane dyke on Allermuir's northern slopes is plainly visible. After a cold snowy winter there was a sudden reappearance of the snow.
	Allermuir Summit 1152 x 864 237K	This is the highest point of the Pentlands near Edinburgh. The bronze plaque has distant hills and other landmarks with illustrated silhouettes and direction lines to point the way. You can still hear the roar of the traffic on the A720 from here - but the view is tremendous.
	Allermuir Sunset 1152 x 864 74K	This is a view of Allermuir's summit from Caerketton, photographed just before 4pm at the end of November. Two figures can be seen at the summit, one of whom is standing on the circular stone pillar. The sun is about to set.
	Allermuir Sunset 05 1280 x 854 159K	Photographed at the end of January '08.
	Allermuir Viewpoint 1152 x 864 314K	The bronze plaque is covered in morning dew. Beyond is the footpath from Swanston. The Firth of Forth sweeps across the distance behind Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat.
	Allermuir Viewpoint 2 1152 x 864 231K	'Allermuir Hill Pentlands 1617 feet' states the text in the central circle round the compass points. 1617 feet = 493 metres, or about twice the height of Arthur's Seat.
	Allermuir Moon 1152 x 864 75K	The sun had set some time before, so a tripod was necessary for this shot of Allermuir as seen from Capelaw. Lingering skylight was augmented by the rising full moon. To the right of Allermuir the lights of Esk Valley villages can be seen.
	Allermuir Summit Plaque 1024 x 768 180K	A close-up view of the plaque pictured above. The image has been rotated so that some of the marked names can be more easily read through the dew.
	Allermuir Summit Plaque 04 1152 x 864 227K	A clearer view of some of the peaks visible from here on a clear day.
	Allermuir Summit Gate 1152 x 864 201K	Photographed on Christmas Day 2004. It was only a White Christmas once we climbed up Capelaw Hill. The wooden gate at the top of Allermuir is encrusted with ice..
	Allermuir Summit 06 1152 x 864 285K	A familiar view to those who have climbed up the steep slopes from the west (Capelaw) or south (Castlelaw).
	Allermuir Summit 08 1280 x 960 376K	Looking east from the top of Allermuir. Low winter sun and blue skies.
	Allermuir descent 1280 x 848 180K	Looking over the top of Caerketton towards East Lothian. The sunlit, tiny white rectangles are the Moredun Flats.
	Allermuir from Arthur's Seat 1280 x 964 113K	This long-lens shot from Salisbury Crags also shows Blackford Hill and Braid Hill in front. The little sloping valley ascending Allermuir is known as Smithy Cleugh.
	Allermuir from Castlelaw 1280 x 854 304K	Both of these paths are steep. The left one climbs up from the top of Howden Glen and the right one from Castlelaw. Just up to the right (off the picture) is Allermuir Summit.
	Ascent 1002 1280 x 850 390K	Photographed from the top of Howden Glen February 2010. Patches of snow persist amongst the frosty grass.
	Summit 10 1280 x 797 213K	The Ordnance Survey marker post is at the very top. The fence to its left continues for a long way down the hill to the north.
	Descent 01 1280 x 850 293K	The highest part of Allermuir has already been descended. From this plateau there are paths down to Swanston or along to Caerketton and Hillend.
	Descent 02 1280 x 850 339K	Further down the hill towards Swanston. Arthur's Seat stands in front of the Firth of Forth on the left. The A720 city bypass separates suburbia from the Pentlands.
	Black Hill at Green Cleugh 1024 x 768 96K	Seldom climbed because of its steep-sided dome shape and loose scree slopes. This is a path leading round the north side of the hill. The path is very narrow and is little more than a sheep trail through the heather.
	Black Hill from Bell's Hill 1152 x 864 137K	East Kip and the tip of West Kip are visible on the left. Bell's Hill lies south west of the valley known as Maiden's Cleugh.
	East & West Kip from Black Hill 1152 x 864 211K	Looking across the plateau at the south west end of Black Hill toward the Kips. West Kip is the pointed one on the right, standing 551M above sea level. The foreground vegetation is in different coloured stripes where the heather has been burnt. This encourages new grass for the sheep.
	Blackhill View South 1152 x 864 303K	There are at least four of these perfectly square patches of conifer plantation along the side of the main Pentland Ridge. I'd like to see the trees felled - and the sheep gone too, so that a few native trees might have a chance to grow.
	Turnhouse Hill from Black Hill 1152 x 864 125K	The foreground is the peat covered top of Black Hill, its chocolate colour exposed by erosion. Behind lies Turnhouse Hill at the north east end of the ridge.
	Black Hill Heather 1152 x 864 227K	Purple Hill would be a more appropriate name, at least in late August when the heather is in bloom.
	Black Hill 450 x 600 35K	This dome-shaped hill stands behind Threipmuir and Harlaw reservoirs as you approach the Pentland Hills from Balerno.
	Black Hill Smoke 1280 x 854 210K	Two pictures of heather burning photographed through a long lens from Castlelaw. In the foreground is part of Turnhouse Hill with Glencorse Reservour hidden from view.
	Black Hill Smoke 2 1280 x 854 224K	The second shot is zoomed in more to reveal some vehicular and human activity beside the track leading up the hill from Loganlea Reservoir.
	Black Hill start of path 1280 x 973 468K	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.
	Black Hill Smoke 3 1280 x 854 192K	Photographed from Dens Cleugh looking south west up White Cleuch on the western slopes of Black Hill.
	Dens Cleuch 1280 x 850 399K	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 cleuch.
	Dens Cleuch 2 1280 x 850 543K	A couple of photos of rust - iron is oxidised and hydrogen is released into the atmosphere.
	Dens Cleuch 3 1280 x 850 593K	A closer view of the rusting drum. It will disappear eventually. All things must pass. Rust never sleeps. (Two musical quotes)
	Blackhill Cows 1280 x 994 421K	Glad to see more Highland Cattle in another part of the Pentlands. Previously they've been seen at Swanston. Blackhill and Dens Cleuch are in the background.
	Blackhill-g 1280 x 850 326K	Coming down the bulldozed track with views of Glencorse Reservoir and Castlelaw. There's no obvious route onto or off this track although it's visible from miles away.
	Blackhill-j 1280 x 850 292K	Further down the track which leads towards the conifer plantation at the centre of the picture then fizzles out at fields between Logan House and Logan Cottage. Dens Cleuch is down the slope to the left but there's no path down the rough ground near White Cleuch Burn.

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Pentland Hills

3 Reservoirs, A702, Allermuir, Black Hill

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