Northern Pentlands

Getting there

• Start from Midlothian Snowsports Centre, which is just south of the Edinburgh City bypass on the A702.
• The route finishes several miles south on the A702 at Nine Mile Burn, so it may be an idea to arrange transport back. Alternatively there is a bus service (101 and 102 from Dumfries to Edinburgh).

Caerketton

• From the east end of the Snowsports car-park, head south-east uphill on a path up that winds with way through gorse to a seat at a view-point on a small knoll . Beyond this, the path heads up through a gate with a sign-post and directly up to a cairn on Caerketton's eastern minor summit.
• From the cairn, follow a good path to the untidy cairn on Caerketton's summit, just 2 or 3 minutes further on.
• Shelter from the elements can be found in a little hide a few metres on.

Allermuir

• Leave Caerketton staying on the path along the crest and following the fence-posts, dropping to a col with another path crossing it.
• Uphill next, keep on the same path hugging the fence-posts to continue to Allermuir's summit with its viewfinder. Fine and far views from Allermuir in all directions !

Castlelaw

• From Allermuir's summit, go through a gate, follow the path east to a weird block, then turn left (south) and keep by the fence-line downhill. The path meets up with a track, follow this to cross a cattle grid and head uphill on a short rise.
• A slight drop, then a fork in the track is reached, turn right and follow the track to the summit of Castlelaw with its concrete pillbox and flag-pole. If there is a flag flying, then the MOD are out target-practicing - don't go within the fenced area !

Turnhouse Hill

• On Castlelaw's summit, turn left (east) and descend steep ground following some posts to pick up a track. Follow this track down to Castlelaw Farm, checking out the ancient fort and earth house on the way.
• Signposts mark the way on a mucky path around the farm (and MOD firing range), cross a cattle grid to turn sharp-left (south) and pick up a path down to the private road in Glen Corse .
• Follow the road downhill (east) to a signpost pointing right (west and marked 'Scald Law with the cooperation of the landowner' !), to go through two gates and cross a bridge over Glencorse Burn. You are now in fields that are likely to contain livestock ! Aim uphill on a path, go through a couple of gates, then the ascent steepens to for the path to pass by through some woodland and attain a small col.
• Another short steep section, then the hill levels off for the last few mintues to reach Turnhouse Hill's summit and its untidy pile of boulders.

Carnethy

• Continue on the path, south and downhill from Turnhouse, around a minor rise, then drop on easy ground to a col . Through a gate in the fence, then on a gravelly constructed path, head uphill to the large strewn pile of boulders on the summit of Carnethy.

Scald Law

• From Carnethy, after an initial steep and bouldery drop west, the descent lessens and a path continues over grass and peat to the next col .
• Uphill next, a maintained path zig-zags its way through the heather, then crosses grass to reach the trig point on Scald Law's summit - no untidy cairn here ! Being the highest point on the route, the views are excellent.

South Black Hill

• South-west next on a path (not very obvious in thick mist), look for a junction in the paths and take the left fork (south) which crosses peaty ground.
• Stay on this for a few minutes, crossing some wet grassy ground, then climb up a short gravelly section to South Black Hill's bouldery summit.

The Kips

• Aim around the South Black Hill's cairn and pick up a faint path heading north-west-north. The path drops some height then meets with a more obvious path that comes directly down from Scald Law at the next col .
• Follow this path up a short steep ascent to the summit of East Kip then grassy ground to below another short steep section to the summit of West Kip.

Descent to Nine Mile Burn

• From West Kip's summit drop south-west on a worn path to cross the Drove Road. Cross a fence via a stile by a signpost and head south on a path.
• On reaching the crest, there is a vague junction, keep right, heading south following the path over grassy terrain.
• A font stone is reached, perhaps with some coins - the base of an ancient cross, marking the route of the Monk's Way - from a monastery in Newhall to Queensferry.
• The end is in sight, follow the path and signposts across and around fields down to Nine Mile Burn, where you've left another car or arranged a lift - if not, then there's a bus stop on the main road !