Allermuir and Black Hill Pentlands

[kleighton]

Cold sunny day with some snow lying and possible high winds forecast, I decided to tackle some lower summits in the Pentlands.
I parked at Castlelaw. I didn't see the carpark which isn't signposted, until I returned. It's on the left at the end of the public road just after taking the right hand fork. I parked in a layby opposite.
Lots of early army activity with at least 4 vans of personnel and a soldier standing at the foot of the track. All friendly and smiling.
I walked up the track past Castlelaw Hill then down to a fence junction. I went over a stile and walked up a short steeper path on LHS of a fence round a right hand bend the up beside the fence to the summit where there is a trig and a view indicator. Views were superbe.It was a bit blustery and a couple arrived just after me from the ski centre so I didn't stop long.
I returned to the stile and after recrossing it I followed a path to SW traversing the side of Castlelaw Hill then on a flat boggy path above a stream. This was a lovely quiet part of my walk with a real feeling of wildness.
Once round to the west of Castlelaw Hill I dropped down to the road beside Glencorse Reservoir. To reach the road I cut across a field entering and leaving by gates and following a rough ATV track across the grass.
I then walked along past Logan Cottage. I entered a field by the next gate and went up to the line of the trees where there was a grassy track along through a gap in a wall and across and slightly up to a gate with a gap in the fence beside it.
After this there was a steep muddy track beside some trees then a grassy path traversing the hillside along the tree line. When the trees ended after a short distance a grassy track/path headed up across the slope towards Gask Hill where I picked up a more substantial track shown on the OS map.
I decided to head up a grassy side path to see Gask Hill which was very heathery with no path. I then cut back to the track which led eventually to a high point just short of the summit where a rough path through the heather led to a small cairn. Peaceful and remote. Views of the rest of the Pentlands were lovely.
I returned the way I had come and went back up through the field to walk along the path through Castlelaw Firing Range( luckily no red flags or activity) and back to the car.
An enjoyable peaceful day in the Pentlands.