East Cairn Hill - Pentlands

[Derek T]

This was our first time in this part of the Pentlands and it provided a good opportunity to walk on some unfamiliar hills and to work out a few options for good, longer linear walks when combined with the hills to the east.

I'm left feeling slightly confused as to why East Cairn Hill (561m) qualifies as a Marylin but West Cairn Hill (562m) does not

I'll post the few pictures we took later but here is our route...

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Derek T]

I'm left feeling slightly confused as to why East Cairn Hill (561m) qualifies as a Marylin but West Cairn Hill (562m) does not

I just looked at the map again and realised I missed the summit of East Cairn Hill by making the mistake of heading for the huge cairn at the north west end of the summit ridge instead of the crest of the ridge to the south east which is 6m higher

[fedupofuserids]

6m higher

Don't worry, just start your next walk 6m lower.

Any photos ? I'd like to do some walking in the Pentlands & Lowther hills. Two areas I've never been.

[Derek T]

Any photos ? I'd like to do some walking in the Pentlands & Lowther hills. Two areas I've never been.

Will post photos later tonight. The Pentlands are great hills for getting you fit. Lots of steep ascents and long walks. Let me know if you'd like any company up there

[Derek T]

Unfortunately there are only a few pictures of our walk as the battery in the camera packed-in early in the walk.

This is East Cairn Hill from Thieves Road, which is the path from West Linton to Mid Calder via Baddingsgill and Cauldstane Slap...

The old road sign at Cauldstane Slap...

This is the view from the summit of East Cairn Hill. On the far left you can see Arthur's Seat in the far distance. The range of hills to the left of centre are Hare Hill, Black Hill and Allermuir. To the right is the ridge formed by Turnhouse Hill, Carnethy Hill, Scald Law and Back Black Hill. East and West Kip can just about be made out in front of and below the skyline of Scald Law.

We looked at this view for a few minutes and discussed the possibility of a monster skyline walk around all of these hills, including the one we were on. Maybe one day

[fedupofuserids]

Thanks for the pics

Derek T wrote :
Let me know if you'd like any company up there

I may well do that but ....

I have 103 wainwrights to complete before the New Year
Some Munros & other hills nr Glen Affric... weather permitting
Some Munros & 1 Corbett nr Aviemore... originally planned todo in May, just couldn't get away as planned
Some Grahams & other hills SE of Moffat...time permitting
Some Corbetts in D&G...weather permitting
Some Marilyns in the Northern Pennines and hopefully a few in the Cheviots...long shot

Considering I don't class myself as a hill-bagger, my to-do list seems longer than any tick-off list. Maybe I should concentrate on just one hill class rather than trying to climb everything !

[rspat]

You didn't miss much by missing the proper summit - from memory, it's just a section of wall, no cairn to be seen. The views from the big cairn you were at are the best - rest of the Pentlands, most of Edinburgh & the Firth, the Ochils, the southernmost Munros (on a clear day) - Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich & Stuc a'Chroin, Ben More & Stob Binnien. Often very quiet, even on a good day.

[Rekrab]

This hill is on the list of HuMPs (hills of 100M prominence)

MacKenzie,

[Paul Webster]

All the Corbetts, Grahams and Sub2000s are on the list of Humps!