📌 Pentland Hills, City of Edinburgh
★★★
This pair of reservoirs are found up the Bavelaw Burn above Balerno. A wander around the shores of Harlaw and Threipmuir gives good views across the water to the boggy northern summits of the Pentland Hills. Popular with dog walkers, anglers and student post-exam celebrations, but worth a visit at any time of year even if you don’t belong to one of these groups!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Harlaw Reservoir 
Harlaw Reservoir 
Harlaw Reservoir & lone cormorant 
Greylag geese 
Path along Harlaw Reservoir 
Harlaw Reservoir 
Bridge across the inflow 
Threipmuir Reservoir 
West end of Harlaw Reservoir 
Threipmuir Reservoir & Black Hill 
Threipmuir Reservoir & Black Hill 
Threipmuir Reservoir 
Return over a low hill 
East end of Harlaw Reservoir 
Rough woodland path alternative to the main track
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Harlaw Reservoir, off minor road 1 mi south of Balerno
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 182655
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.875465,-3.310052
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 40 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 💧 Harlaw Reservoir; 💧 Threipmuir Reservoir
⬤ Easy | Wide, fairly level paths, narrower with a little ascent after Threipmuir Reservoir. Narrower alternative paths closer to reservoir shorelines.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Harlaw Reservoir dam – Threipmuir Reservoir dam – path junction near east end of reservoir – east end of Harlaw Reservoir – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Greylag geese, crows, cormorants, blackbirds, tits, goldcrests; sheep in nearby fields.* Swans & ducks on Threipmuir Reservoir; cows & sheep in surrounding fields.**
Weather: Sunny with some areas of cloud, moderate winds, about 8°C.* Sunny & breezy with scattered clouds.**
*November 2020 / **June 2015
