14 of the best walks in the Pentlands Edinburgh

When I was staying in Edinburgh for a month, I loved exploring the Pentland Hills Regional Park and finding some of the best walks in the Pentlands which are just outside of the city.

This hilly area is located to the south of Edinburgh and quickly became one of my favourite places to explore.

What I love most about the Pentlands is how accessible they are from the city centre, with numerous public transport links available, including bus routes and a nearby train station. This makes it easy to get out of the city and into nature, even if you only have a few hours to spare.

During my time in Edinburgh, I took numerous walks through the Pentland Hills, and I was constantly amazed by the beauty of the landscape.

The hills are covered in heather and offer stunning panoramic views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside.

The Pentland Hills are a popular destination for walkers, hikers, and trail runners and offer everything from gentle strolls through woodland or around reservoirs to challenging hikes up steep inclines.

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some of the best walks in the Pentland Hills, from easy routes suitable for families with children to more challenging hikes for experienced walkers.

I’ll be providing details on some of the best Pentlands walking routes, the highlights, and any tips to make the most of your trip. So grab your walking shoes and get ready to discover the beauty of the Pentland Hills!

OS Maps are awesome for hiking in the UK. I’ve never found anything quite like them when in other countries. They have all features like churches, rivers, peaks, viewpoints and more. You can get paper maps (which are great for finding new places), and their app is super useful too.

How to get to the Pentlands near Edinburgh

Getting to the Pentland Hills from Edinburgh is relatively straightforward, with several transport options available.

Driving to the Pentlands

If you have access to a car, you can reach the Pentlands from Edinburgh by heading south on the A702 road.

From the city centre, it’s approximately a 30-minute drive to reach the Pentlands.

There are several car parks located throughout the hills, including Flotterstone, Harlaw, and Threipmuir.

Be aware that parking can be limited, especially on weekends and holidays, so it’s best to arrive early to secure a spot.

I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!

Buses from Edinburgh to the Pentlands

Several bus routes go between Edinburgh and the Pentlands so you can go for a walk even without a car.

Edinburgh’s Lothian Buses 4, 15, and 44 from the city centre go to various points in the Pentland Hills.

The 4 and 44 routes terminate at Hillend, while the number 15 route runs from the city centre to Penicuik, passing through the hills along the way.

Bus timetables vary, so it’s best to check online for the latest schedules.

By Train to the Pentlands

If you prefer to travel by train, the nearest station to the Pentland Hills is Wester Hailes.

You can book trains online in advance by using TheTrainline.com which makes it super easy to plan your journey ahead of time!

From here, you can catch the number 44 bus to reach Hillend, which is a popular starting point for many walks in the Pentlands.

Alternatively, you can take the train to Penicuik, which is located on the edge of the hills, and explore the area from there.

What to know before hiking in the Pentlands

• Always practice leave no trace ethics and don’t leave any rubbish behind. Stick to pre-existing paths so as to not erode the trails any further than need be.
• Pack plenty of layers including your waterproofs and your 10 essentials (see below)
• Always let someone know where you’re going and what time you’re expected back
• The trail maps and stats below are just a guide for your inspiration. Do your own additional research into distances, difficulty and trail closures.

What to pack for Pentlands hikes

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

Best walks in the Pentlands

Below you’ll find my pick of the best walks in the Pentlands. I’ve included a mix of easy walks that are great for families and beginner walkers, as well as some more challenging hikes on some of the highest peaks in the Pentlands.

Like hiking? Check out over 100 hiking guides I’ve written from hikes and walks around the world!

Pentlands Hills maps

I use a combination of both OS Maps and AllTrails to find and map out my hiking trails and Pentlands Hills walks. I find AllTrails is best for inspiration, while. OSMaps is best for mapping out the actual route you plan to take.

If you’re looking for a Pentland Hills walking map, you’ll find trail maps for each of these Pentland Hills walks linked below.

1. Harlaw Reservoir walk

Harlow Reservoir is one of the easiest and prettiest of Pentland Hills walking routes.

Accessed from the car park by the Harlaw House Visitor Centre, you can enjoy a family-friendly walk around the reservoir with views of the hills all around you, beach areas by the reservoir and a small woodland too.

From the visitor centre continue straight on and you’ll soon come to a wooded area which will take you around the southeast side of the reservoir.

When you reach a steep grassy embankment you can climb up this to a lookout point over Threipmuir reservoir. From here, go right to walk alongside the edge of both reservoirs, before taking another right over a small footbridge and walking along the other side of Harlaw Reservoir to the way you came originally.

• Top tip: Finish your walk by visiting Carlyle’s Bar & Kitchen in Balerno for delicious cake and hot chocolates!

Trail stats:

• Distance: 3.5 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1 hour
• Elevation: 70 m
• Trail map

2. Pentland Five Peaks

The Pentland 5 Peaks trail is one of the more popular routes in Pentland Regional Hills Park but that’s because it’s a great hike near Edinburgh!

On this route, you’ll get amazing views pretty much the whole time and see basically the whole park over the duration of the walk.

Starting at Nine Mile Burn, you’ll walk up over East Kip, West Kip, Carnethy Hill, Scald Law, and Turnhouse Hill.

There are some areas with steep climbs and descents but none count as scrambles or are exposed so it’s achievable if you’re someone who is into hiking.

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Distance: 17.9 km
• Elevation: 742 m
• Duration: 6-8 hours
• Trail map

3. Allermuir Hill

Allermuir Hill starts near the Snowsports Centre just outside of the city on the northeastern part of the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

From the small car park here follow signs for ‘Capital View’ until you reach some steps.

At the steps, turn left and take a steep uphill path going diagonally across the slope.

Keep on this trail until you reach a bench which is a great spot to take in some amazing views of Edinburgh.

Then, when you reach a gate in the fence, go through it and continue uphill.

Keep on walking uphill until you reach a large cairn which marks Caerketton Hill. From here you can see some of the larger summits in the Pentlands and the views really start to get good.

You’ll go downhill a little bit before your final ascent up to Allermuir Hill marked by a trig point at the summit.

Enjoy the sweeping views then retrace your steps all the way back to the car park.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 5.9 km
• Elevation: 440 m
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Trail map

4. Capelaw Hill and Allermuir Hill

If you want to walk up Allermuir Hill but make it a bit longer, a great variation is to add Capelaw Hill and turn the walk into a loop trail – which I always think makes a hike more interesting.

While you can start the Allermuir and Capelaw Hill walk from the ski centre just outside of Edinburgh, adding on Capelaw Hill means it makes a bit more sense to start from Bonaly.

From the parking lot at the far end of the road, you’ll head uphill slightly through a short section of forest before coming out by the Bonaly Reservoir.

At the reservoir, continue straight through some more woodland and then turn slightly left to go up the through the field to the top of Capelaw Hill.

When I hiked up here the weather was just starting to turn but it held out long enough to get up to Allermuir Hill which is not too much further away.

However, getting there does require a slight descent from Capelaw Hill and then another final, quite steep climb up to Allermuir Hill where you can enjoy some amazing views back towards Edinburgh and the sea.

• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Distance 7.5 km
• Elevation: 393 m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail map

5. Allermuir Hill and Castlelaw Hill

This is a great Pentlands Walks Flotterstone trail and can also be done as one of the Pentland Hills walks from Swanston.

This version of the Allermuir Hill and Castlelaw Hill walk starts from the Flotterstone car park near Glencorse and follows the paved track for about 1 km.

After you pass a wooded area, keep your eyes open for a path to your right which goes uphill, take this and you’ll walk it for around 10-15 minutes until you come out at the back of a farm, a car park and a shooting range.

The shooting range is directly under Castlelaw Hill and walking here is generally safe but do abide by any warning signs, no entry signs and make sure the red flags, which indicate troops are shooting, aren’t up.

From here, follow the sign to Castlelaw Hill around the farm and soon you’ll come to an ancient fort. It’s a pretty cool fort which you can take a look inside and I recommend you do!

From the fort, there’s a wide trail that goes uphill to Castlelaw Hill. It starts quite steep but then levels off a bit and there are numerous paths you can take to get up to the top of Castlelaw Hill itself.

The views from here are fairly limited since some are fenced off as part of the shooting range, so you likely won’t spend too much time up here, instead continuing on to Allermuir Hill.

Allermuir Hill has some of the best views of Edinburgh and it’s not particularly steep or hard to get to.

After enjoying the views at Allermuir Hill, take the path downhill and then back up again to Capelaw Hill which has a large plateau-type summit and some pretty views.

From here, walk downhill again into a glen and then take the path running through the glen until you reach the paved track you started on. Then, just follow this back to your car.

• Distance: 6.1 km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2- 4 hours
• Elevation: 268 m
• Trail map

6. Balerno to Glencorse

For a long walk in the Pentlands with some awesome views, the walk from Balerno to Glencorse is a good option.

There typically aren’t that many people on these trails once you’ve got a few km past roads and car parks so it’s a nice way to get out and enjoy the peace and quiet in the Pentland Hills.

You’ll start by Harlaw Reservoir, head past Threipmuir Reservoir and then continue on a well-marked trail in the valley between Harbour Hill and Bell’s Hill until you reach Glencorse Reservoir.

It’s a beautiful area and can also be combined with a walk-up Black Hill if you wish to get some more elevation in.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Elevation: 206 m
• Distance: 9.7 km
• Trail map

7. North Esk Reservoir

The North Esk Valley route is one of the walks in the Pentlands that’s popular with birdwatchers since there are many birds living around the reservoir.

This Pentland walk takes around 2 hours and takes you on a circular route by the North Esk Reservoir. It can get quite muddy though so you’ll want some wellies or good hiking boots.

There is a small parking area at Nine Mile Burn and from there walk up the rest of the road until you get to a path on your right.

Take this path as you go through Spittal Farm and up and over a hill. Continue on the same path until you reach a fork in the path at which point you take the left, heading downhill towards North Esk Reservoir.

There’s a small boat house here with a picnic bench which makes a great point for a snack and a drink, or a more drawn-out picnic if you’ve packed for that!

From here, carry on going downhill towards a house where there’s an information board about all the birds in the area.

Continue clockwise around the reservoir where you’ll come to Dulverton Hide which is a small hut you can hide in to watch the birds and then head back along the path to where you parked up.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Elevation: 269 m
• Distance: 5.9 km
• Trail map

8. Harlaw Reservoir + Black Hill

I did this as a solo walk and the views were so pretty once you get to the top of Black Hill, plus you get a nice easy section by Harlaw Reservoir.

Starting from the visitor centre at Harlaw Reservoir, chose a route to go around the reservoir until you get to Threipmuir Reservoir. From here, turn left and hike along the edge of Threipmuir Reservoir until you reach a bridge going over the water.

From here, turn left and follow the path as it goes around the corner and into the valley (this is the same route on the Balerno – Glencorse walk).

Not long after you round the corner, look for a path to your right that goes uphill and take this.

It turns into more of a track at some points and gets quite muddy and boggy in places but it’s not super steep.

Follow this all the way until you come out to a plateaued area and you’ve reached the top of Black Hill.

To get back, retrace your steps and when you reach Harlaw Reservoir, you can choose to go the opposite way around it.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Elevation: 251 m
• Distance: 11 km
• Trail map

9. Bonaly Reservoir

The circular walk around Bonaly Reservoir is relatively easy and suitable for most abilities, although some parts of the path can be uneven and muddy, especially after rainfall.

Starting from the car park at Bonaly Country Park, the route follows a path around the reservoir, passing through woodland and open fields. The trail is well-marked and offers fantastic views of the Pentland Hills and the city of Edinburgh in the distance.

Along the way, you might see swans, geese, and ducks.

This easy walk in the Pentlands near Edinburgh around Bonaly Reservoir is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or just looking for a relaxing stroll, this walk is definitely worth checking out.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 1 – 2 hours
• Elevation: 158 m
• Distance: 2.5 km
• Trail map

10. Carnethy Hill

Carnethy Hill is one of the highest peaks in the Pentland Hills, located to the south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a popular destination for hillwalkers and offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The ascent up Carnethy Hill is a challenging walk that involves some steeper hiking sections and patches of rocky terrain.

The walk starts at the car park at Flotterstons. From here, follows the path as it goes fairly steeply uphill to the eastern side of Carnethy Hill, passing through heather moorland and rocky outcrops.

As you ascend, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. On clear days, you can see as far as Bass Rock in North Berwick and the surrounding hills.

Once you reach the summit of Carnethy Hill, you’ll get even better views of the surrounding hills and countryside.

The summit is marked by a trig point, which is a popular spot for taking photos and enjoying a well-deserved rest.

For your descent down Carnethy Hill, you can either retrace your steps or follow a different route.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
• Elevation: 519 m
• Distance: 6.5 km
• Trail map

11. Capital View Walk

The Pentlands Capital View Walk is a great option if you want to take in the stunning Edinburgh skyline.

Starting at Hillend Country Park, the walk begins with a steep ascent up Hillend Hill but you can take a rest on the bench at the top of this section if you like.

From here, either continue up Caerketton Hill or take the path along the ski slope’s top.

As you make your way back down the hill, the walk gives you amazing 180-degree views of Edinburgh, stretching from the Bridges in the west near South Queensferry, past the Castle and Arthur’s Seat, and all the way out to North Berwick law in the far west.

Once you reach the valley, the path leads past the cute village of Swanston before returning to Hillend’s dry ski slope.

Although there are some steeper parts, they are not overly challenging or exposed, making the walk manageable for most people.

• Difficulty: Easy-moderate
• Length: 4.5 km
• Elevation: 196 m
• Duration: 1-2 hours
• Trail map

12. Scald Law

Scald Law is the highest peak in the Pentland Hills and is a popular walk for those looking for more of a challenging hike near Edinburgh with fantastic views.

There are some steep sections to the Scald Law walk, but nothing exposed or scrambly.

You can start the Scald Law hike from several places but when I hiked it we parked in the small village of Silverburn.

There’s a wide path/road that takes you towards the hills and by a couple of quarries. When you come to a fork in the trail, head left and follow the faint path through the grassy banks on the way up to South Black Hill.

From the top of South Black Hill, head north, going downhill slightly before climbing again up the western side of Scald Law.

At this point during our hike it got super windy making it hard to walk up the steeper sections to the summit of Scald Law but it all added to the fun and fortunately, it wasn’t raining too much!

At the summit of Scald Law (579 m), you get amazing views of the surrounding hills and the rest of the Pentlands. There’s a trig point up here and it’s a great place to have a snack before making your descent.

We chose to go down a different way, crossing the top of Scald Law and coming down on the eastern side of it.

As you descend into the valley you’ll come to a crossroads, go right and follow the trail until you reach the road again. The last section is on the pavement alongside the road until you reach your car.

Or, follow the trail map below to take a route which avoids walking alongside the road.

• Distance: 6 km
• Elevation: 353 m
• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail map

13. West Kip, East Kip & Scald Law

This half-day hike through the Pentland Hills takes you over three summits along the main ridge: West Kip (551 meters), East Kip (534 meters), and Scald Law (the highest point in the Pentlands, at 579 meters).

To begin this beautiful hike through the Pentland Hills, head to the Threipmuir car park and follow the tarmac road that crosses the reservoir and heads uphill, flanked by trees.

Take a right turn onto a track and continue until reaching the left turn. After passing through, the track takes you across open moorland that can be a bit boggy.

At the foot of West Kip, take a left turn to begin the steep, grassy climb.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other until you reach the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with excellent views all around.

After the descent and some sheltered spots for a snack, the path leads you to East Kip, offering fantastic panoramic views and is more prominent than Scald Law, which is the final and highest summit in the Pentlands.

From the summit of Scald Law, descend on the other side, joining a path that leads down to The Howe.

Here, go left turn and follow the trail, passing a small waterfall before continuing along the glen.

The path eventually leads you back to the tarmac road and Threipmuir car park.

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Duration: 5-6 hours
• Elevation: 582 m
• Trail map

14. The Pentlands Skyline

If you’re looking for a challenging hike near Edinburgh in the Pentlands, check out the Pentland Skyline walk, which involves completing a full circuit of the two ridge lines.

Starting at the Hillend Ski Centre car park, the Pentland Skyline route takes you up Caerketton, Allemuir, and Castlelaw Hill before descending to Flotterstone.

From there, it’s up and over the five peaks in the Pentlands – Turnhouse Hill, Carnethy Hill, Scald Law, South Black Hill, and East and West Kip – before descending back down to the valley.

Once you cross to the other side, prepare for a rough and boggy path over Hare Hill, Black Hill, Bell’s Hill, Harbour Hill, and Capemuir Hill, before returning over Allemuir and back to Hillend.

• Elevation: 2000 m climbing total
• Duration: 10-12 hours
• Distance: 33 km
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Trail map: Please note. this is a very rough trial map to show you the general route, more research will be needed on your part.

Final thoughts on these best walks in Pentlands Hills

The Pentland Hills, located just outside of Edinburgh, offer gentle strolls through wooded glens to challenging hikes up steep inclines so there is truly a walk in in the Pentlands for everyone.

With several access points available, including by car, bus, and train, it’s easy to get out of the city and explore this beautiful area.

During your walks in the Pentlands, you’ll get to enjoy stunning panoramic views of Edinburgh and the countryside.

With so much to explore, a Pentlands day trip is a great outdoor thing to do in Edinburgh for active travellers.

FAQs about walking in the Pentland Hills Edinburgh