Follow the old Monks Road up over Cap Law into the heart of the Pentlands before returning via an old path through the Braid Law col. This fairly straightforward hillwalk gives some great views.
Bog Factor
Clear hill paths; some wet sections
Parking area at Nine Mile Burn, off the A702.
Bus to Nine Mile Burn.
NT177577
There is a parking area by the cottages at Nine Mile Burn, just off the main A702 road. The walk begins through a gate by the sharp corner and is marked with a signpost for Balerno via Monk's Rigg. The original Monks route ran from Newhall Monastery to South Queensferry on the Forth. Go through the gate and turn left at the far end of the field, ascending beside a stone wall and crossing a dip before climbing again to a stile, gate and another signpost. Bear right now but then turn left, following the sign for Monks Rigg and ascending beside a fence.
Eventually there is a stile in the fence; cross this and head diagonally across the next field to reach another fence and stile, with a broken stone wall just beyond. Cross these to continue up the now open moorland; the views back get better with each step, with the Quarrel Burn reservoir well seen. The path passes close to an old stone which may once have been the base for a cross, marked on the map as a font. West Kip comes into view near this point, the steepest and shapeliest of the Pentlands, whilst there are great views looking back over the Strath towards the Moorfoot hills.
Continue along the ridge, passing the top of Cap Law, the highest point on this walk at 497 metres. The path forks right to descend to the bealach below West Kip, crossing a stile to reach a hill track by a signpost. The Monks Road goes left here for Balerno, whilst for others this is a great place to begin a traverse of the main Pentland peaks by heading over West Kip towards Scald Law. Our route, however, turns right for a short distance.
Another signpost soon indicates a path to the right, crossing a stile, as signed for Nine Mile Burn by Braid Law. Follow the signed path which cuts around the hillside keeping to the right of a fence. It eventually leads through a gate and continues below the scattered woodland on this flank of Cap Law. Pass through a second gate and keep on the path as it contours the hillside, soon above the line of the fence. Keep right at a junction to begin climbing, aiming for the col (or bealach) between Braid Law and the Cap Law ridge.
Cross the pass and descend slightly west of south down to cross the Quarrel Burn. On the far side the going can be wet until a fence is reached with a signpost and stile. Cross this and follow the path that continues across the slopes to another stile and signpost. From here the route heads down the field to the left, turning right at the bottom (further signpost) to climb slightly and regain the outward route across another stile. Take the next signed stile on the left to retrace your steps back to the start.
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