About The Pentland Hills
What’s this attraction all about?
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills that enclose Scotland’s capital city to the south-west, running around 20 miles towards the town of Biggar in the south. The hills are clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city and they make the perfect destination for a relaxing walk if you want to get away from urban noise, with lots of woodland, lochs and wild, hilly expanses of heather and gorse to explore.
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What can you do there?
Much of the area that encompasses the Pentland Hills is used for recreational activities, with hill walking, mountain biking, and horse riding among the most popular. There are also extensive golf ranges, and an artificial ski slope at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre, both of which are accessible year round. There are several reservoirs on the hills which supply the majority of Edinburgh with fresh water and nearly all of them have pathways that are perfect for taking a leisurely walk around, such as the Glencorse reservoir that lies north of this walking route.
There are over 60 miles of well-laid paths through the hills that are easily accessible on foot, and it won’t take you long to find an area high enough to give you a stunning panoramic photo opportunity. While some of the hills are only suitable for walkers with above-average fitness, if you’re in the mood for a bit of hard legwork and want to take in some breath-taking views then there’s no better hike than the one to Turnhouse Hill.
The visitor centre at Flotterstone is the starting point for many walkers as they venture into the hills, with an easily accessible car park on site along with toilets and a small cafe, with the route to Turnhouse Hill clearly marked on maps if you want to get your bearings first. Leaving the car park takes you on a short section of road before turning onto the trail which heads up towards the hill, and the well-worn path is easy to follow.
The ascent is quite steep though at around 500m above sea level but it does at least offer some glorious views across East and Mid Lothian, with Fife clearly visible in the opposite direction. The route to the summit takes around an hour for someone of reasonable fitness and the path continues further into the Pentlands if you want to explore Carnethy Hill and Scald Law beyond.
What I liked about this attraction
- The views across the Pentlands are fantastic
- Lovely little café in the car park
What I didn’t like about this attraction
- It’s quite a climb so no good for the infirm
- In winter it gets really muddy
Getting there
From Edinburgh take the A702 towards Penicuik. The road to Flotterstone is signposted close to the Flotterstone Inn.
Penicuik,
Midlothian,
EH26 0PP
Get Directions
Walking Map
Contact details
- Telephone: 0131 529 2401
- email: [email protected]
- Website: Pentland Hills
Prices and opening times
The Pentland Hills are accessible at all times of the year. There is no fee to enter the hills but car parking charges may apply at some locations. As of 2018, there is no charge to use the Flotterstone car park.
Facilities
Virtual Tour
Gallery
Craig Smith is your guide to the best attractions in Scotland. He loves exploring the Scottish wilds and is happiest when he’s knee-deep in a muddy bog in the middle of nowhere.