Pentlands – A702, A720, Allermuir, Blackhill

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.

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.

Bonaly Road crosses the A720 bypass here. This is an infrared photograph from the bridge. More infrared images follow...

Looking upstream towards the hills.

A similar view of the Braid Burn but shot on a sunny morning at the end of February 2014.

Traffic thunders by yards away on the Edinburgh Bypass A720 dual carriagway. This is the view from the stile over the fence back towards Bonaly and what remains of the Polo Field in 2015.

At the same place there's this helpful sign.

To get to Bonaly from here the best route follows the Braid Burn through the trees. If going to Capelaw then the easier path branches off to the left, once through the new deer fence at the top of this short slope. (Even this short slope can be dangerous when covered in snow and ice!)

Looking down on the A720 Edinburgh Bypass where it crosses the valley of the Water of Leith at Juniper Green. The higher bridge is the A70 Lanark Road where it crosses above the A720.

A long lens look at the A720 Edinburgh bypass where it crosses the valley of the Water of Leith.

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.

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.

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.

Photographed at the end of January '08.

'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.

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.

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.

The highest part of Allermuir has already been descended. From this plateau there are paths down to Swanston or along to Caerketton and Hillend.

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.

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.

The second shot is zoomed in more to reveal some vehicular and human activity beside the track leading up the hill from Loganlea Reservoir.

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.

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.

This infrared photo was taken a little further on and it shows more of the valley (Green Cleugh) below. The main path, popular with cyclists between Balerno and Glen Road, crosses the picture about a third up.

The same view in colour.

Infrared photo of the stone hut. Behind its strong metal door can be heard the sound of rushing water.

This path leads round the north east of Black Hill. The sun is shining on Bell's Hill. There is a path up the hill to the right of the wall - but crossing the bog can be tricky unless there's been a dry spell of weather. The main path ends at Logan Cottage and Glen Road.

A similar view in normal colour

19th September 2015 - Runners descending Allermuir. The path is very steep near the top.

6 March 2017

6 March 2017

6 March 2017

6 March 2017