An Excellent Circular Run Or Walk With Views Over...

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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Posted:  Thursday, January 4
Runner:  Rod Dalitz

An excellent circular run or walk with views over Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth, in clear weather as far as the Cairngorms, may be had over the Pentland Hills at the south side of Edinburgh. Because the route is circular, you can start in several places, for example the terminus of the number 4 or number 15 bus (near the ski slope entrance) or the terminus of the number 16 bus (by Safeways). You can park in several places but the best is at Safeways - drive to the city by-pass at the A702 junction, signed to Biggar. Drive 600m north of the roundabout, turn left at the traffic lights, and drive 1km west to the Safeways supermarket behind the Hunters Tryst public house. Starting from Safeways, take the lane just north of the car park heading west. This ends after 500m at a cutting; turn left and proceed over a gravel path to meet the road and cross the city bypass. Then, follow the road right and turn left after 100m. After another 150m go through a gate on the left, which leads up through fields. Now you are out in the country and navigating is easy. This jeep track leads up 2km to 400m elevation, when you reach the gate at the top turn left and proceed up a fainter trail to the top of Allermuir Hill, 493m (1618 feet). Follow the ridge generally east, along the fence, to Caerketton Hill, then still following the fence north-east go down to cross a stile and follow paths northwards to meet the road to the Hillend Ski Centre, keep downhill, turn left at the main road. Continue north over the city by-pass and on a further 600m to turn left at traffic lights, keep going west along Oxgangs Road until you see the Hunters Tryst public house and Safeways. The round trip is about 10km, over hills and some peaty boggy paths as well as some paved roads. It needs shoes with a good tread and can be difficult in bad weather with low cloud - you should carry a compass, and remember that there are crags to the north of Caerketton. The Ordinance Survey Landranger 50K scale map sheet 66 shows the route, as well as many other good trails in the Pentland Hills.

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