THE PENTLAND HILLS
A Walker’s Guide
by Susan Falconer
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Author
Susan Falconer began walking in the Pentlands in her early teens. After graduating with a degree in geography from St Andrews University she began a management career in the health service in London. Despite being many miles from her native country, she returned regularly to walk and cycle in Scotland. She trained as a teacher and became senior tutor in ecology and geography for the Field Studies Council in Epping Forest. Susan returned to Scotland to take up the post of countryside education officer for the Scottish Agricultural College, before becoming a countryside ranger with the Pentland Hills Ranger Service in 1995. She enjoys hill walking, cycling and wildlife, and contributes articles to the Pentland Beacon and other publications. Susan now works as a Biodiversity Officer for a local authority. This is her first guidebook.
© Susan Falconer 2016
Second edition 2016
ISBN: 978 1 85284 867 5
First edition 2007
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photos by the author, except where credited to the Pentlands Hills Ranger Service (PHRS).
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Evelyn, who allowed me the freedom to explore the hills.
Acknowledgements
Many people have helped me with the revision of this book. I would like to thank John Stirling, Ian Combe, John Surtees, Dennis Smith and Hamish Clark who assisted with route checking. I would also like to thank Michelle Cunningham and John Nelson for accompanying me whilst walking the routes again and the Natural Heritage Service for additional information on changes.
Updates to this guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/867/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: Looking over to Turnhouse Hill from Flotterstone Glen
CONTENTS
Access rights and responsibilities
Literary Connections with the Pentland Hills
Protecting and enjoying the hills
Walk 2 In Stevenson’s footsteps
Walk 5 A phantom walk
Walk 6 Harlaw Reservoir circuit
Walk 7 Black Hill, Green Cleuch and Red Moss
Walk 8 Carnethy and Turnhouse
Walk 9 Three peaks
Walk 10 Pentland classic
Walk 11 Thieves’ Road
