Pentlands – Caerketton

The hill at the north-east end of the Pentlands, above the artificial ski slope at Hillend. It's 452m above sea level. Photographed from nearby Allermuir Hill.

Shearie Knowe is the lower hill on the left. Further along there is a stile where you can cross the fence and take a path down to the bridle path. Left for stables, right (up the hill) for Swanston. The hill on the right is Byerside Hill. From this point the fence turns left and continues on a dyke, south, up to Allermuir's summit.

Fluffy white clouds drift across a hazy blue sky. Far to the east lie Craigmillar and Musselburgh, barely discernible to the left of Caerketton Hill.

The higher of the two peaks (452M) is the eastern one shown here with the small cairn on top. This point is visible from most of Edinburgh. The top of the artificial ski-slope is halfway down the hill and a bit further east.

When you reach the top of this path from Hillend, Hillend Hill is on your right. Continuing straight on takes you to Swanston or turning left takes you up the steep second half of Caerketton's eastern end.

The sign post at the top of the path leading from the Hillend / Boghall path. Hillend Hill is through the gate on the right. The top of the ski slope is nearby on the path to Swanston. There are remains of a fort on Hillend Hill.

After climbing a bit further looking back down shows the knowe (knoll / hillock) of Hillend Hill. Edinburgh is in the distance on the left.

The gorse-covered hill in the middle distance is Shearieknowe (916 feet). A stile on its ridge gives access over a fence and leads down into Smithy Cleugh where it joins a bridle path. The small hill directly below is Byerside Hill which sits between Swanston and Allermuir.

Castlelaw stands in front of Turnhouse Hill, Carnethy, Scald Law, East Kip and West Kip.

The path follows the fence before branching off to Swanston or continuing to Allermuir's Summit.

The steep footpath up to the ridge is framed by the branches of a fallen, dead tree. To the left can be seen the scree of Caerketton Craigs.

The same view on a misty August morning.

A different day and this time we're near the summit.

The next four photos were taken in the early morning light, late in October. In this view the camera is looking across the Esk Valley towards the cloud-capped Moorfoot Hills which also have a sprinkling of snow.

The same view as above but zoomed in for a tighter composition. This gate is at the top of the path from Boghall.

The early morning sun glances across the hilltop in this view to the east. A cairn in the foreground beside the path contrasts with Traprain Law on the horizon.

A long lens shot. To the left of the 4 Moredun flats blocks stand the white buildings of the Royal Infirmary, gleaming in the sunshine. The white buildings further away are Kinnaird Park. The cliffs of the Isle of May (May Island) are plainly visible across the Firth of Forth near the horizon.

The cairn at the top of Caerketton Hill. In the distance the main ridge streches out to the south west. From left to right the peaks are Turnhouse, Carnethy, Scald Law, East Kip and the pointed one, West Kip.

A contrast between the the rough, semi-wild foreground and the concrete blocks on the western edge of the city.

The morning sunshine picked out the detail of Caerketton's scree slopes well.

A closer look at the scree further to the right, showing one of the steep paths.

At 5.30pm on a September evening we chanced upon this person flying effortlessly to and fro along the ridge of Caerketton Hill.

Behind the paraglider are the Forth Bridges. In the distance to the north are the Ochil Hills, with yet more hills visible further west.

There are no landmarks in this shot, only sky and a rather relaxed looking pilot, sitting comfortably with crossed ankles.

Sunday 21st September 2014. Having climbed up the steep path above the ski slope at Hillend we encountered two paragliders just taking off.

The first to get airborne was brown, white and yellow.

The cords attached are coloured red at the rear and light blue at the front.

In the distance, beyond Caerketton's heathery slope is Corstorphine Hill.

There was a light easterly wind with a few lulls and gentle gusts.

A wider view showing Corstorphine Hill on the left and the Craiglockhart Hills in the middle distance on the right.

Immediately behind the paraglider is the faint skeleton of what remains of Granton Gas Works.

After a few minutes the breeze picked up again and the red paraglider took off.

A wider view shows Donaldson's building and Fettes College on the left of the picture. The white building right of centre is part of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital at Morningside. Fife is barely discernable across the Firth of Forth due to the haze.

The last of this sequence shows the red paraglider about to disappear behind the hill. Donaldson's building is the the right edge of the picture.

An infrared photo of the path along the top of Caerketton.

Continuing west we met up with the highland cattle referred to by the notice at Swanston.

A highland cow grazes high over the city.

Down below, the A720 city bypass marks the boundary between farmland and the bungalows of the Swanston area.

A slightly wider view with the background in focus reveals Braidburn Valley Park just right of centre.

Truly a gorgeous creature!

Ruminating whilst apparently gazing over the city of Edinburgh. The familiar outline of Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat is in the distance.

Allermuir Hill is the background for this picture.

Before leaving the cattle, a look back towards the summit of Caerketton.

Another look back from the slopes of Allermuir.

An infrared view along the path to the summit of Caerketton.

The crags and scree of Caerketton Hill as seen from above Swanston.

March 27 2017 paraglider

Highland cattle on Caerketton

Highland cattle on Caerketton

Highland cattle on Caerketton

Corstorphine Hill and Cramond Island are the background.

Grateful thanks to this group for providing a sense of scale in these four photos.

All three Forth bridges are faintly visible.

Boxy buildings below

Caerkettion as seen from above Swanston