West Linton to Balerno

Summary

From the historic village of West Linton the Scottish National Trail follows a track close to the route of an old Roman Road to Carlops. From here it climbs to the North Esk Reservoir before climbing over a pass through the Pentland Hills. The stage finishes at the commuter settlement of Balerno.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Tracks and clear hill paths, minor road. Section between Listonshiels and West Rigg is very boggy in places.

Getting there

Start

West Linton.

Public Transport

West Linton, Carlops and Balerno are all linked to Edinburgh by bus services.

Start Grid Ref

NT149517

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Services

West Linton has hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, as well as shops. Carlops has a hotel, and Balerno at the end of the stage has a range of shops and a bus link to Edinburgh, but accommodation is limited.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 19.25km / 12 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 254m (Profile)

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Explorer 344 - Pentland Hills

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

West Linton is a very attractive village with a long history. This stage of the trail begins at the Clock Tower on the Main Street; turn off along Lower Green here, passing the church hall. The road curves right at the Green, passing Leven Cottage, to reach a ford and footbridge alongside. Cross this and continue up to reach the busy A702 beyond. Cross this with care and head up the minor road opposite - signed for West Linton Golf Course and Badinsgill.

Stage 2

Continue up the road - or on a path which runs through the trees parallel to the tarmac on the right hand side. Ignore the Medwyn Drive turning off to the right, continuing ahead until a footpath sign for Carlops indicates another turning on the right. Head down this tarred lane, crossing the bridge at Lynedale and continuing ahead when another lane from West Linton joins from the right. Ignore further turnings off on either side, keeping straight ahead - the track is close to the line of an old Roman Road cutting across the southern side of the Pentlands.

Stage 3

At another junction keep straight ahead, passing behind a stone house. Eventually a riding stables business is reached; pass through, leaving gates as you found them and eventually meeting the main A702 road. Cross with great care to follow the pavement on the far side into Carlops. Before reaching the pub, a footpath sign on the north side of the road indicates where to cross back and turn left (the sign reads 'Buteland by the Borestane'). Follow the tarred lane uphill, keeping straight ahead onto a rougher track when the tarred lane turns left for Carlophill Farm. The track drops down to the trees by the Fairliehope Burn and then swings right and then left.

Stage 4

Ignore a signpost for Buteland and instead continue along the track until it descends to the stone reservoir keepers' houses by the North Esk Reservoir. Before the house turn left ('Footpath'), then right through a gate and then left again to follow an initially muddy path along the west side of the reservoir. The path soon passes above the Dulverton Hide - an opportunity to study the birdllife on the water. Further on the route passes through a gate, and the 'shortcut' signed route comes back in from the left.

Stage 5

Through the gate, coninue on the earth / grass track up the glen. Pass through another gate in a stone wall; beyond this the route becomes a path, cutting across the slopes on the east side of the glen. Cross a stile before the final gradual climb over heather moorland to reach the watershed of the Pentlands, where a gate leads through another wall. The Bore Stane that gives the pass its name is actually a natural stone marking the col (and council boundaries) - it is slightly off path to the left.

Stage 6

Descend the path on the far side until it meets an often muddy rough ATV track. Turn right along this, then left when it meets a better earth track. This leads on to a gate and junction near Listonshields. After passing through the gate, turn right (signed 'Bavelaw') across the pathless pasture, following a line of electricity pylons to a gate leading to a gap in banks of forestry.

Stage 7

Go through the gate and continue directly ahead, still following the line of telegraph poles. Though many parts are dry, there are one or two very boggy patches on this stretch and wet feet are likely. Cross a stile in another fence, and then through a gate, continuing ahead all the time until a minor road is reached at a bend.

Stage 8

Go straight ahead along the road. There are good views on this stretch of the Pentlands, with the western end of Threipmuir Reservoir in the foreground. Turn left at a t-junction with a larger road, and then keep straight ahead all the way along this into the heart of Balerno.

Stage 9

Balerno is a commuter settlement for nearby Edinburgh. After passing the Coop bear left down steps onto a short length of pedestrianised street. This emerges on a road and passes a primary school to reach a roundabout. The next stage follows the Water of Leith walkway; to reach the start turn right at the roundabout, then continue ahead, passing the High School; the walkway begins on the right just beyond.

Next stage: Water of Leith to Slateford

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