Pentlands – T Woods, Thieves Road, Threipmuir, Torduff, Torphin, Turnhouse Hill

Known in Edinburgh as the T Woods but they're actually in the shape of a Cross as seen from above. The Hillend artificial ski-slope is on the left of the woods.

This photo taken from Swanston Road.

A couple of studies of mist condensing into water droplets on tree branches. The T Woods are in the background.

This and the previous photo were taken on the same day as Caerketton Misty 08.

Photographed early one morning in late October, looking down from Caerketton. The autumn colours are revealed by the sunshine as commuters travel along the bypass at the southern fringe of Edinburgh. Further away to the north is the Firth of Forth and Fife.

Near the west arm of the cross-shaped woods, facing east along the A720 Edinburgh bypass. The triangular silhouette of Traprain Law is just visible on the horizon near the left, some 30 miles away.

Early November and the sun is rising later. The northern part of the wood is silhouetted against a pink sky.

15 minutes later and slightly higher up. The pink effect is patchier now.

There are two paths down from Allermuir to Swanston; this is the the least steep one. The T Woods are directly in front.

Not accessible by public transport. You must drive or cycle miles past Balerno on the A70 Lanark Road, the Lang Whang until you're nearly at Harperrigg Reservoir. The wee bridge pictured here crosses the Water of Leith near its source.

Further along the path and East Cairn Hill is getting closer. July 2005.

Taken a year later than the Thieves Road pictures above, showing the same little footbridge over the Water of Leith. Up here, it's a small burn (stream) trickling from nearby Harperrig Reservoir. This view is facing north towards the Lang Whang.

In this south facing view both East Cairn Hill and West Cairn Hill are visible. The walk from the carpark on the A70 to the top of East Cairn Hill is 5 miles.

This area is Cauldstane Slap and if you continue straight ahead you'll eventually get to West Linton. Turn left at the gate for the path up East Cairn Hill.

'For almost 200 years small black cattle were driven through this pass on their way from Highland grazings to English markets. Robbers and cattle reivers lurked in the heather in those days, giving the route its sinister nickname - the Thieves Road.' (information from the Ranger Centre)

The causeway lets walkers cross the eastern tip of the reservoir instead of having to walk round the marshy area between Bell's Hill and Black Hill.

Taken from the footpath round the north west side of Black Hill, this picture shows the causeway more clearly, as well as a wading fisherman silhouetted against the water's silvery surface.

The water level was very low when we passed this way in May 2010. Some walkers are taking advantage and exploring the reservoir bottom.

As seen from the path down to Blacksprings.

It looks like the reservoir has been drained for some remedial work.

August 2011 and Threipmuir is full. A breeze whips up some foam at this end. Somewhere in the distance there are wind turbines.

Photographed from the causeway. Vegetation is thriving on the banks and under the water.

Infrared photo from the little jetty. The causeway is on the left. The dog in the scene was moments earlier being a pest, poking its nose into my camera gear. The dog-walker person had 4 dogs, didn't apologise for his dog's behaviour or even acknowledge me at all.

The shot I really wanted to take, minus dog.

Looking the other way, away from the causeway. A similar view to Threipmuir May above but wider and lower and in infrared.

The opposite bank of the reservoir with Black Hill behind.

Back to normal colour for some shots of the vegetation.

Pink flowers poking up above the surface.

Infrared view over the causeway to the main part of the reservoir.

Infrared view along the causeway to the path at Threipmuir's north side.

The red line was traced by my Samsung Tab's GPS. At the foot of the picture is the end of the path along the north west side of Blackhill. The path then turns north and crosses the causeway. After a muddy stretch along the shore to the right the path heads towards Harlaw.

The end of the chain when walking north-east. You must follow the path to descend to Flotterstone Village. In the background you can see the Firth Of Forth.

As seen from the opposite direction to the picture above. The path up from Flotterstone can be seen climbing through the trees toward the summit. If you look closely you can see walkers at several places on the path.

Framed by Scots Pine trees. To see more of Castleknowe, click here.

If walking the ridge towards Flotterstone then this is the view that awaits you on the last stretch from Carnethy Hill to Turnhouse Hill. The red path snakes down across the heather before climbing again for the last time.

Castleknowe is a smaller hill near Castlelaw Fort. It has some Scots Pine trees (not shown in this shot) and offers some good views of Turnhouse Hill.

Descending the steep path can be tricky in parts. About halfway down, the trees frame the footpath below. The sheep give an indication of scale. Unfortunately the sheep eat any young trees that might sprout.

Further down and more of the path can be seen here. It crests a couple of hillocks before finally descending at Flotterstone.

The Firth of Forth lies far away to the north. A path leads down the hill to Torduff Reservior. A tarmac footpath follows the northwest side of the water and leads to Permissive Path and Clubbiedean Reservoir.

Lying midway between Torduff and Clubbiedean Reservoirs, this path leads to the steep hill above Bonaly Carpark.

Further up the path near the top of the hill. The path continues along a contour through the woods ahead before reaching the main track up to Bonaly Reservoir.

The south east end of the dam. The view across to the west is Torphin Hill.

Another look at the pier, open to walkers when we passed this way in May 2011.

At the other end of Torduff Reservoir you can continue to Clubbiedean Reservoir or take the left path up Torduff Hill to these woods. This path leads to the gate at the top of the steep, cobbled track leading up from Bonaly car park.

The former quarry is behind these painted gates which also sport a sign declaring Colinton Community Compost.

If the conditions are right then steps often form naturally on steep hillsides. These ones enabled a runner to overtake us easily.

In front of the trees in the previous picture. These old trees have been shaped by the weather. Any naturally occuring offspring would have been eaten by sheep.

In the dappled sunshine, under the laid-back trees, with a good view back down to Flotterstone.

The path gets less steep for a while as you emerge from the trees.

Further up, looking back. Steps have started to form but soon it gets too steeps and walkers' boots have caused some erosion.

Footpaths do meander. Steepness of terrain or wet conditions cause walkers to wear new variations to avoid the bad bits. Up here it's quite steep and it's easier going up than down for some people.

The last stretch of the path up Turnhouse is easier.

If not continuing along the ridge (Carnethy, Scald Law, East & West Kip) then you can get down to Glen Road this way. There's a bridge across the Logan Burn between Loganlea and Glencorse Reservoirs.

It gets steeper as you descend so care is required.

This smaller hill is not often climbed by walkers. To its left is the much bigger hill Allermuir and to its right is Shearie Knowe and the bridle path.

Photographed from the path on the south west of Castlelaw.

No longer in use for filtering water from the reservoir. It seems as though tree seeds have been blown from the nearby plantation. Each of the 3 former ponds is in a different state of growth.

The path from Bonaly car park to Torduff Reservoir. Infrared photo as are the rest of the black and white pictures on this page. (February 2014)

Looking back along the dam.

Peeling paint on a gatepost at the north west end of the dam.

The south end of the reservoir in normal colour.

The south end of the reservoir in infrared, taken a few moments before.

We noticed a greenish hue to the water, not as pronounced as in Switzerland, but unusual for the peaty Pentlands.

Continuing the walk by taking a left turn misses Clubbiedean Reservoir but will return you to Bonaly through the woods at the top of this hill.

A meandering path takes you through the Scots Pine trees.

Tom aka @Cyclingmollie tweeted 'That's terrifying' which surprised me at first. There's a colour version 2 pictures down for comparison.

A vertical view of the scene. I'm always fond of the asymmetry of Scots Pines but was intrigued by the curved trunks, shaped by the wind at the southern edge of the woods.

Normal colour.

It was hazy in the distance but much clearer in infrared. This is Whitehill overlooking Bonaly. The Firth of Forth cuts across the scene with Fife beyond to the north.

March 2014: A favourite way into the Pentlands is compromised, now that the Polo Field is gone. This way is a good alternative avoiding suburban streets. The 10 bus alternates between Bonaly and Torphin, the leftmost purple GPS track on this Google map.

Torphin Golf Course is closed and it remains to be seen what will happen to the land. Meantime if you get off the 10 bus at its Torphin terminus you can follow this path up to Torduff Reservoir. We had to clamber down a wall at the reservoir end but it wasn't too difficult. There was an open gate next time.

A sign reads COURSE CLOSED though, as yet, the grass is still short.

Near the end of the wider path, this one branches off and cuts back to the left up the slope. Due to wear and tear by the now absent golfers, this path is paved with green matting making for a less muddy walk up the hill.

Looking back down. The white building left of centre is the one first pictured in Torphin 18 above.

The upper part of the reservoir and the causeway leading across to Blacksprings. A path leads to the right following the shore. Black Hill lies opposite. Turning left there leads to Dens Cleugh and Bell's Hill; turning right leads along to Green Cleugh and the path from Balerno to Loganlea.

Looking across the causeway to Blacksprings and Black Hill. In early July 2014 there was no water overflowing from left to right but water could be heard inside the stone hut.

Pretty as pink - growing amongst the reeds and tall grass at the side of the reservoir.

As mentioned before the T Woods are really a cross shape. This is an infrared view from the west side looking towards Hillend.

In this view from Swanston Road the T Woods do appear to be T-shaped.

Looking downhill towards the bridge over the burn feeding Torduff Reservoir from Clubbiedean Reservoir. The former Torphin Hill Golf Club (in front of the radio mast) shut down and will become overgrown.

The path from Torduff to the Bonaly area. Whitehill is in the background.

View to Clubbiedean Reservoir from Torduff area

The golf course is no more!

The lower path leads to the dam at Torduff Reservoir.

Looking back down a steep section of the higher path.

Keep on this path to continue up the hill.

A good view of Whitehill overlooking Bonaly.

This and the next shot were taken from the same spot. Fully zoomed in here.

This wide angle shot shows where the previous picture was taken from.

Torphin Quarrry from above.

A closer look at the pond.

The view back down to Torduff Reservoir.

To the left of the bridge a small waterfall feeds Torduff Reservoir from Clubbiedean Reservoir.

Approaching Turnhouse from Carnethy I saw these cows on a steep slope.

A group of hillwalkers on top of Turnhouse.

Descending Turnhouse towards Flotterstone. Two walkers approach the tree in the next photo.

Shaped by the elements.

Two remarkably similar trees on the route downhill.