Walk: Gentle shepherds & leaping witches – Carlops circular

📌 Pentland Hills, Midlothian / Scottish Borders
★★★

North Esk Reservoir is a fairly quiet spot in the southern Pentlands above Carlops; one of the many burns tumbling down from the moors into this body of water is the source of the namesake river. A pass between Spittal Hill and Patie’s Hill makes for a scenic approach to the reservoir from near Nine Mile Burn. Starting from Carlops, our circuit also takes in the photogenic folds of Habbie’s Howe, which include a small waterfall, cave and unspoilt woodland. Habbie’s Howe was also the setting for The Gentle Shepherd: the most famous work of 18th century Scottish poet and playwright, Allan Ramsay.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Witches’ Leap, by A702, south end of Carlops

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 161559

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.788977,-3.339089

🚌 Bus to Carlops

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 310 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr

Features: ⛰️ Witches’ Leap; 🌊 Habbie’s Howe & Peggy’s Pool waterfall; 💧 North Esk Reservoir; 🏠 Carlops

⬤ Moderate | Clear but muddy paths in Habbie’s Howe; then good tracks across the pass to the reservoir. Return to Carlops from Fairliehope is on a rough path with rocky / steep / muddy areas (alternatively remain on the main track). Two busy road crossings, other minor road sections.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Kitleyknowe – Peggy’s Pool – Habbie’s Howe – Newhall – Spittal Farm – pass between Spittal Hill & Patie’s Hill – North Esk Reservoir outflow – Fairliehope – Carlops Bridge – Carlops – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Buzzard & mallard ducks at North Esk Reservoir. Lots of sheep, small birds.

Weather: Unbroken sunshine, deep lying snow & light wind. -5°C at 10am in Carlops; sub-zero all day.

January 2021 (some pics from August 2023)