Winter Walks In The Pentland Hills, Edinburgh: Scald Law & Carnethy Hill
Route: Scald Law and Carnethy Hill
Start & end: Flotterstone (this is a circular walk)
Time: approx. 5 hours
Distance: 12.25km / 7.5 miles
Difficulty: an easy walk with clear hills paths. Steep climb to Scald Law but return on a flat road.
Wear: sturdy hiking boots, layers, and warm jacket.
The Pentland Hills, Edinburgh
Whilst I LOVE hiking in the Highlands, it can also be something of a trek to get there. So, I set myself a challenge: find hills close to home so I can get outdoors and get my hiking boots on! That’s when I discovered that best place to go walking near Edinburgh - the beautiful Pentland Hills.
Located less than 30 minutes from Edinburgh, the Pentland Hills are often referred to as the city’s beauty spot. Spanning 90km of moors, peaks and reservoirs, the hills are part of the Pentlands Regional Park; offering a place to reconnect with nature, escape the demands of city life and – on many occasions – battle the outdoor elements.
A hike up Carnethy Hill to Scald Law, the highest point in the park, is easily the perfect blend of hearty outdoors adventures whilst being an easy journey from the city of Edinburgh. And even though these hills are low-level, the make a great training ground for bigger hikes.
Here’s my Edinburgh Pentland Hills walking description and my favourite Pentlands route.
Scald Law and Carnethy Hill
Walk | 7.5 miles | Pentland Hills
My favourite Pentland Hills walk starts at Flotterstone, a five hour loop aiming for the highest point in the park – Scald Law.
Here you’ll find a small visitor centre with a car park, very handy toilets and maps of the area. On a sunny weekend it can get a little congested here, but once you’re past the car park you’ll discover many visitors aren’t planning on completing the hike; a lot of people come here for an easy-going stroll around the nearby reservoir.
Just past the visitor centre there’s a sign pointing to the Scald Law trail; taking a gate on the left, I head over a footbridge and the long upwards traverse is stretched out ahead, completely white with snow.
Another reasons I’m in the Pentlands today is the weather. Whilst the Pentland Hills are absolutely gorgeous on a spring or summer day, today there’s a scattering of snow on the ground and the Pentlands look especially magical.
The Pentland Hills Highest Point
Scald Law | 579m
The beginning is a steady climb, which feels much tougher than 579m. It’s entirely manageable with a decent level of fitness; just expect your legs to burn!
From here, push on towards Carnethy Hill and follow the trail to the summit of Scald Law.
Almost entirely alone, I drink in the golden light moving over the hills, the blue sky and the snow whipping around me; I’m surrounded by some of the most picturesque views in the whole area - the peaks of East and West Kip look wonderful from here. This corner of Edinburgh is truly a place to escape from the stresses of emails, meetings, and the demands of city life.
But the air is bitingly cold, and whilst I’m well wrapped in lots of layers and my new and very toasty woolly hat, I can feel my cheeks burning in the blasting wind - time to descend.
The return walk
Scald Law to Flotterstone
From Scald Law it’s a far more leisurely walk back to Flotterstone.
On this side of the hill the wind disappears and it’s perfectly calm. Following the fence line back down the hill and crossing the style, I eventually reach the house at The Howe where the return trail reaches the glen floor and completely flattens. Following the sign for Flotterstone, the trail joins a road that curves around the glistening Loganlea Reservoir, dotted today with tiny fishing boats and walkers having lunch on picnic benches.
From there the road traces the Logan Burn towards the larger Glencorse Reservoir lined in places with Scots pines; and finally curves its back to the start and car park. Then it’s time for a well deserved tea in the Flotterstone Inn!
Pentland Hills Walking Route
Route
The Scald Law walk is reasonably easy to follow, although not all of it is signposted; I recommend using an OS Pentland Hills map for navigation. Find a digital map of our route on Walkhighlands.
Weather
This may not be the Highlands, but the Scottish weather can be just as unpredictable in the hills! Always check the Pentland Hills forecast in advance and make sure you’re properly prepared for any weather, especially in winter.
Wear
Firstly, walking boots are a must. The walk up to Scald Law is steeper than you might expect for a lowland hill and you’ll want the ankle. I’ve seen a few people heading up these hills in trainers and I’m pretty sure they regretted their choice of footwear!
Otherwise I’d recommend your usual hillwalking gear, plus warm clothes in winter. Even in the snow, it’s rare you’ll need any special walking gear in the Pentlands - but layers and an insulated jack are a must.
Getting there
The easiest way to the Pentlands is by car, and Sat-Nav will easily find the Pentlands car parks. But if you’re looking for public transport then the Stagecoach 101 or 102 (signposted Dumfries) runs regularly from Edinburgh bus station. The journey takes around 30-minutes.
Restaurants in the Pentlands
Flotterstone Inn | Food & Drinks
The Scald Law walk ends at the cosy and traditional Flotterstone Inn, ideal for a hearty supper. The Inn serves delicious pub grub, hot drinks, lunches and dinners, and well-earned beers for weary walkers. The Inn has a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere, and the kitchen ethos focuses on serving fresh, organic, local produce - much of it reared on the Pentland Hills farms. There’s also a really great range of vegetarian dishes.
Car parking: The Flotterstone Inn is just outside of Edinburgh on the A702 Biggar Road. It has a small car park, or you can park in the main Flotterstone parking area.
Opening times: Open every day, from 12 noon till late.
Staying in the Pentlands
Eastside Cottages | Self Catering Stay | Pentland Hills
If you’d like to stay in the Pentland Hills overnight, then check out the beautiful Eastside Cottages. I haven’t stayed yet but have our eye on their Woodshed cabin which looks lovely.
