North Esk Reservoir, Pentland Hills
Location: North of Carlops, near Penicuik
Map: OS Landranger 76 (GR 566 852)
Distance: 7km (4.5 miles)
Time: 2 hours
Terrain: Signposted tracks and paths
THIS walk uses the extensive network of ancient paths and tracks that crisscross the Pentland Hills. The going is firm underfoot, if a little rough in places, but is an excellent opportunity for a family outing.
Park in Carlops, below the Carlin's Loup, the tower of rock said to be the launch pad forwitches in times gone by, and the source of the village's name. Walk north through the village towards Edinburgh, passing the inn named after the eighteenth-century poet and editorAllan Ramsay.
The route follows the rights of way signposted path - Buteland by the Borestane. It's on the other side of the road and is best accessed by crossing the busy road further along by the bridge, then walking back a little. Follow the path across the bridge over the burn - part of the upper reaches of the River North Esk - and continue past a small waterfall, then up and around the side of the hedge running around Patie's Mill to emerge into a narrow valley beside the burn.
Continue alongside the water, then find a better path slightly higher up the side of the valley, before dropping back down to cross the North Esk by a narrow bridge just above where the Fairliehope Burn joins it from the left. Cross the fence by a stile, following the signpost for Balerno by North EskReservoir and go straight up the hillside above the Fairliehope burn.
Cross a track and continue to just belowwoodland, before heading left below the woods and Fairliehope Farm to go through a gate and pick up the main track coming up from Carlops. It leads uphill past farm buildings until North Esk Reservoir comes into viewwith the hill of Cock Rig beyond. The structure was constructed in 1850 to produce water for cotton mills downstream at Penicuik and beyond.
At the reservoir, leave the Buteland path for the one signposted Nine Mile Burn, walk round the formerwaterkeeper's cottage and cross the dam wall. Ascend the hillside to the col between Spittal Hill and Patie's Hill to gain the vehicular track coming up from Spittal Farm. This is the high point of the walk and offers fine views across to the Border Hills around Broughton and over the flatness of Auchencorth Moss to the Moorfoots and the Lammermuirs beyond.
Follow the track around Spittal Farm down to the Nine Mile Burn Road and turn right on to the road, signposted to Carlops. At a bend, take the track straight ahead past Wanton Wa's cottage on the road to Patie's Hill farmhouse. This is the line of one of the main Roman highways in eastern Scotland and is thought to date back to Agricola's initial campaigns in around 80AD.
Where the track doubles back to the farmhouse, go straight ahead, taking the rights of way signposted path to Carlops. This passes through the woods above the main road before descending to the pavement alongside the road, which leads back to the village.
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