📌 Pentland Hills, Midlothian
★★★
Situated either side of the cleft of the Kirk Burn, Capelaw Hill and Castlelaw Hill are outlying tops of the slightly higher and more prominent Allermuir Hill. The former’s summit panorama lacks depth due to its flat surroundings, while much of the latter’s southern side is a military firing range! These unfashionable features have an advantage on busy days however: they are usually relatively crowd-free while still offering great views into the heart of the Pentlands – and this circuit keeps out of the MoD estate, so can be used even when the red “Keep Out!” flags are flying. Our route starts by tracing the pretty shores of Glencorse Reservoir, while the return leg calls at Castlelaw Hill Fort, featuring a souterrain (ancient, underground storage passage) which is well worth viewing. Those with surplus energy could easily incorporate the busier trig point of Allermuir Hill itself (though we prefer climbing this hill from its more charismatic north side).
📷 Chronological photo guide
Path just beyond the car park 
The Glen 
Glencorse Reservoir 
Turnhouse Hill (left) from Knightfield Rig 
Capelaw Hill (left) 
Castlelaw Hill (right) & Kirk Burn 
Phantom’s Cleugh 
Capelaw Hill 
View southwest into the Pentlands from Capelaw Hill 
West Lothian from Capelaw Hill 
View over Edinburgh 
Allermuir Hill from the descent from Capelaw Hill 
Looking down the Kirk Burn 
Capelaw Hill from the ascent to Castlelaw Hill 
Allermuir Hill (left) & Caerketton Hill (right) from Castlelaw Hill 
Heart of the Pentlands 
The steep descent from Castlelaw Hill has grand views of Midlothian 
Looking back up Castlelaw Hill 
Turnhouse Hill (left) from the descent 
Castlelaw Hill Fort 
Green & white
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Crawley Cottages, just off A702 2 mi north of Penicuik. Alternative start at Castlelaw Hill Fort
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 232631
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.854697,-3.226911
🚌 Bus stops nearby on A702
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 400 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: 💧 Glencorse Reservoir; △ Capelaw Hill (454 m); △ Castlelaw Hill (488 m); 🏰 Castlelaw Hill Fort ★★★
⬤ Moderate | Clear paths & tracks throughout, but some steep, rough or boggy sections, especially on Castlelaw Hill.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – path through The Glen – Glencorse Reservoir – Knightfield Rig – Phantom’s Cleugh – Capelaw Hill from the west – skirt Fala Knowe – Castlelaw Hill – Castlelaw Hill Fort – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Little grebes, cormorants and geese on Glencorse Reservoir. Sheep, robins, treecreepers.
Weather: Sparkling sunshine and lying snow; temperature just below freezing.
December 2020
