📌 Pentland Hills, Scottish Borders
★★★
Mendick Hill is a quiet Pentland Hills outlier, but its steep-sided profile and location set apart from the main hill range affords it superb views of its more popular neighbours, as well as a wide southern and eastern vista taking in the Broughton Heights range, Cloich Hills and even Tinto. There are several possible routes up the grassy slopes, including from Dolphinton to the south; our variation begins from the charming village of West Linton and avoids the nearby farmyards. The approach also takes in an attractive path known as The Catwalk, so-called because it winds along the edge of a deep glen – though it’s not quite as airy as the name implies.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Catwalk Den Wood 
Country lane near Lynedale House 
Mendick Hill seen from South Slipperfield 
Approach track 
Mendick Hill 
View southwest towards Black Mount from the ascent 
Mendick Hill summit 
Southern end of the Pentlands 
Bench with a view 
Descend by a narrow, grassy path 
View back up the hill (the next section is pathless) 
Forested link back to the outward track 
St Mungo’s Church, West Linton 
West Linton
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Main Street (B7059), West Linton village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 150518
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.751832,-3.355775
🚌 Bus to West Linton
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 310 m | ⌛ 3 hr
Features: 🏠 West Linton; Catwalk Den Wood; △ Mendick Hill (451 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | The Catwalk has a clear path next to a steep drop. Track for hill approach, then steep, grassy path for ascent. Descent on narrow, grassy path with short pathless and wet section lower down. Last section on minor road / informal paths alongside.
Download file for GPS➡️ Irregular walk shape: start & West Linton – Catwalk Den Wood – Lynedale House – track junction near West Linton golf club – leave track at 🧭 NT 126500 – Mendick Hill – climb gate (with care) at 🧭 NT 130509 – rejoin outward route until track junction near golf club – West Linton by Medwyn Road & Chapel Brae – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lots of crows building nests, numerous pheasants, pair of buzzards above the summit, mallard ducks. Horses, sheep and cows in fields.
Weather: Full sunshine with early frost melting, light winds.
April 2021
