Walk: Scald Law is hot stuff

📌 Pentland Hills, City of Edinburgh
★★★★

This perfect Pentland round includes a traverse of the most elegant hills in the region – the Kips – en route to the highest: Scald Law. Despite being so close to Edinburgh, the outward tramp across expansive moorland via the Red Road feels a world away from Princes Street (no more so than on our snowy 2020 visit), with West and East Kip looming large ahead. Meanwhile, the return through Green Cleugh comes with an attractive waterfall nestling in the heart of the range, and has an intimate feel even with all the cyclists zooming past on busy days. The tranquil reservoirs of Harlaw and Threipmuir at the start are worthy of exploration even on their own. For both variety and views, this walk deserves a place right up there with the bigger hills.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Red Moss of Balerno, off Mansfield Road 1 mi south of Balerno

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 167639

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.860786,-3.332543

❌ No public transport within 1 mi | 🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 500 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr

Features: 💧 Threipmuir Reservoir; △ West Kip (551 m); △ East Kip (534 m); △ Scald Law (579 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); 🌊 Logan Burn waterfall

⬤ Tough | Good, wide hill paths – steep near summits, a little wet on Red Road. Tarmac private road at start / end.

➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit: start – Redford Bridge – Red Road – West Kip – East Kip – Scald Law – The Howe – Logan Burn waterfall – Green Cleugh – Redford Bridge – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Hundreds of red grouse, sheep.* Swans & ducks on the reservoirs, sheep.**

Weather: Around freezing with moderate winds & fresh snow, often sunny.* Sunny with scattered clouds, but cold & windy on the ridge.**

*December 2020 / **November 2014