Red Flag on Pentlands West Cairn Hill

[past my sell by date]

I was up there yesterday and about 30m North of the summit was a keep out notice with a Red flag flying above it.
I presume Army exercises of some kind but i can't find anything on the map to indicate a potential danger area.

[prog99]

Did it actually mention the mod anywhere in the notice? The usual ones in the pentlands are very officially worded and there’s no ambiguity about who they are from.

[past my sell by date]

This is the notice Other than Danger and keep out I could read "live" at beginning of second line

[Inverasdale]

There's a gun club down near Harperrig*, probably related to that

*along with murder farm

[past my sell by date]

There's a gun club down near Harperrig*, probably related to that

*along with murder farm

That seems a very likely explanation

[davekeiller]

The MoD land is at the north end of the Pentlands, so I suspect it's more likely the gun club.

[inca]

Home hillwalking turf for me. That red flag is for a new shooting range put in by Cairns Farm Estate. The family owners have broadened their business interests lately, and this is aimed at the corporate entertainment market. Haven't seen the range at close quarters myself however I understand it's in a scoop of land on the northwest lower slopes of West Cairn Hill, roughly in a line between the summit and Cairns House at Harperrigg.

There was/is next to no publicity when the range was opened. I traced and spoke to the lady landowner. She assured me all appropriate planning and safety measures were followed. Given proximity to the Old Drove Road and other paths, I also messaged the Pentland Hills Regional Park staff who'd previously been unaware of it. Never heard back so assume they'd checked and were satisfied with matters.

The other target range mentioned in replies is much older, smaller, and further west along the forestry road towards Colzium. So far as I'm aware, it's never raised any concerns.

[jmarkb]

Thanks for the information, inca!

I hope the estate is not going to become obstructive with respect to access. We walked down from West Cairn Hill to Cairns Farm last year and were met with a frosty reception by someone outside their newly built wedding venue, who told us we "weren't supposed to be there".

[Senja]

The path signs there have bags over them and there is a bit of goml litter about. Looks as if they have "house blocked" access to the Pentlands there. Signs suggest walking along the loch side. Definitely a hostile vibe to the place.