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Errands took me to Edinburgh on Friday, but as the weather was set to clear up, the prospect of a sunny afternoon in the Pentlands was highly appealing. Boots in the car, I headed down the A702 to West Linton where I braved a single track road and parked up just before Baddinsgill Farm. Turns out I could've parked a bit further on but as the route was circular it didn't make much difference.
View from the car – belter of a day
A classy change in the car later, I was heading off down the road a few metres before crossing through a gate and heading down a path. This led me to the river where there was a very welcome bridge - didn't really feel like wading a river yet...
From here there was a faint path that led alongside a wall and up towards the cross borders path. There was some exciting bog-protection; unnecessary today but could apparently be much worse in wetter conditions.
Across the fence was on a much clearer path and followed it round to the right. It was here I met two people, the only other humans I was to see all afternoon. Soon after, the path over Fall Mount branched off and I followed it uphill.
Sleepy sheep friends
It was pretty sheltered most of the way along here and there were a lot of bugs, possibly encouraged by the large amount of sheep poo
and the warm temperatures.
Looking back towards the farm and reservoir
On the ridge, the wind picked up and there was nice breeze, so long as I didn't stop for too long and get cold
It was a nice walk along, and the final pull up to Mount Maw revealed a trig point.
Well it would be rude not to...
The Pentland Massif
Onward route
After some windy posing on the trig (it seemed overly high and it did occur to me as I wobbled around that I'd never live it down if I had to call mountain rescue because I'd fallen off
) I carried on, following fenceposts and a vague path towards Grain Head. The going was relatively easy and it was good to stretch the legs.
My route bypassed the next summit, The Mount, but in true Jaxter style I decided to go over it, just because...
View from a “non-summit”
It was a similar story for the next hill, the path went round the side. This seemed unadventurous, so after carefully braving a steep descent to the bealach and making my way across a boggy and peaty mess I headed straight up. It was steep going and I was having to be careful as I'd stupidly managed to forget my poles. Numpty...
I wasn't actually sure where the summit was on Wether Law, so I had a wander around before continuing. It was another careful descent as everything was hidden under a thick layer of heather. Meeting the fence at the bealach I joined both a wall and a path for the ascent to East Cairn Hill.
I've become fascinated by how much the rock can change over a small distance and this was no difference - as I climbed I could have been forgiven for thinking I was in the Cairngorms. Big rocky Ben-Avon-esque tors appeared.
Perfect for posing
My route so far
The route ahead
A very wee Howff
Crazy rocks
It was a short walk up to the actual summit which was virtually unmarked (there was a tiny cairn on what I thought was the top)…
….so I continued further to the west top where the huge cairn was a much more significant marker!
Bridges
Pentland Massif
Harperrig Reservoir
From here it was an easy walk down a good path where I met a slightly confused Christmas tree...Go home, you’re drunk
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Ahead to West Cairn Hill (hold that thought)
Before reaching the Thieves Road, my easy route home.
However....
The hill ahead was looking very enticing. A quick check of my map told me it was West Cairn Hill...why not?
Off I went, the path was easy to follow and steepened towards the top but before long I was standing on the top. It was a gorgeous afternoon and there were views for miles in every direction.
East Cairn Hill from West Cairn Hill
Glorious panorama of my route so far
From here I planned to continue along the ridge for a short distance before heading downhill on straight line syndrome to hopefully pick up a track. This didn't exactly work out as planned but it didn't matter. I meandered my way downhill across heather and through some very deep peat crevasses which made for some interesting moves. I was using Muckle Knock as a landmark and when I got there I figured I may as well climb it too... the sheep on top seemed surprised to see me
Looking back from Muckle Knock
From here I could see the track which led me back to the Thieves Road.
Baddinsgill Reservoir
Looking back from the Thieves Road
Reservoir
From here it was an easy stroll past farms and hydro works back to the car. It was very warm and after rehydrating it was time to head for home, glad that it was Friday and the rush hour happened a bit earlier ensuring an easy drive
