A Pentland Round: Capelaw Hill, Allermuir Hill, and Caerketton Hill

19 March 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Capelaw Hill., 454m/1,489', P 54m, Tump, OS 66, NT 216 659; Allermuir Hill, 493m/1,617', P 235m, Marilyn, NT 227 662; Caerketton Hill, 478m/1,568', P 65m, Tump, NT 235 662.

Spring had arrived in Scotland, it was a glorious day. Although I had lived in Edinburgh for 30 years, I had somewhat neglected the Pentland Hills in favour of rushing up north to do higher things. As a result, I had not even walked some of my then local hills. Capelaw Hill was one I had never visited but today was the day to put that right. I decided on a linear walk starting at Bonaly and finishing at Hillend.

It was a steep start, initially through woodland but soon out on the open hill. There were signs pointing the way to a number of destinations but on a day like today, not necessary.....

I was soon getting views behind, of Edinburgh and once I got a bit higher, of Bonaly reservoir.....

Higher still, the hills of the south Pentlands- in particular Scald Law and the Kips- came into view.....

The main track ended but was replaced by a rough path which went straight up the north slopes of Capelaw direct to the summit with its strange summit sculpture.....

View south to Castlelaw Hill; the army were out on its firing range.....

and to the Scald Law group again.....

From Capelaw, I turned east for Allermuir, again following good paths.....

It was a fairly steep climb up and I stopped on a number of occasions to take photos back to the other hills.....

Capelaw from Allermuir.....

Summit of Allermuir.....

Edinburgh from Allermuir with Arthur's Seat prominent.....

It was another good drop to the col between Allermuir and Caerketton.....

There are two possible high points, I reckon that to the west just edged it.....

Looking back to Allermuir from Caerketton.....

Edinburgh from Caerketton.....

The descent from Caerketton to the ski centre at Hillend was really steep. I had been going well up to then but I find steep descents nowadays really take it out of me. But it didn't spoil what had been a tremendous walk. And there were still more to do in the Pentlands.

Dumbreck (Glasgow)

 7 March 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Dumbreck, 53m/632', P 32m, Tump, OS 63, NS 560 632

The folk who measure and list these things are still finding new Tumps! I was glancing at the list of changes that were due to be added to the Database of British Hills and spotted a new one in Glasgow. It demonstrates the varied nature- some would say the absurdness- of the Tumps as it is a hill within a totally urban area! Nevertheless, it provided a half day out to a part of the city that I had not visited before. I took the train to Maxwell Park and walked through the park of that name- a very pleasant green space.....

I then crossed over into Sutherland Avenue, the high point of the Tump is at the top of this road. It is almost certainly in someone's garden but for the purposes of the "tick" the pavement outside counts. Then back down for a wander round the park in the spring sunshine before getting the train back to the city centre.....

Caile Mullach

1 March 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Caile Mullach, 72m/xxx, P 32m, Tump, OS 57, NN 530 007

A trip to Aberfoyle to add this one to my list. Most of the small hills in the area are forestry nightmares but Caile Mullach, which I only spotted recently as being on the Tump list, is pleasantly different. There are two tops, the northern one being the higher and also the one with fewer trees on it's slopes and a summit area that only has a few saplings. It also has an excellent view of Ben Lomond. Climbing effort is very little, there is a track to begin with starting at the Aberfoyle Medical Centre and a number of faint paths leading to the top. Stick to the higher ground and you miss all the wet stuff.

From Aberfoyle, CM on the left and Doon Hill, the only other easy Tump in the forest area, on the right.....

There is a path through the bracken.....

The best of the view is always towards Ben Lomond.....

The summit area, the hill on the right is Craigmore, a Tump accessed from the Dukes Pass which Ben and I climbed a few years ago.....

Well worth the effort if you have a spare 40 minutes while in Aberfoyle.

Earn Hill (Greenock)

 14 February 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Earn Hill, 202m/663', P 131m, Hump, OS 63, NS 228 756

It was a nice day for mid-February so I decided to do my first new hill since last autumn, one that I had been looking to do for some time. I got the train to Branchton and a local bus which went to a housing estate about half way up the hill. I then walked up Earnhill road to an industrial estate. Earn Hill from Branchton taken last year.....

Earn Hill from the industrial estate.....

There was a high fence at the road end but with metal gates which were open (apparently they are left unlocked) leading to a track to some water works and the access to the hill proper. It was obviously a popular route to the hill as there was a good path from the end of the track directly to the trig point. Someone had constructed a wooden seat at the trig, although it was facing the wrong way for the best views!

As expected, it was a good view point. Over Greenock to the upper Clyde.....

Across the estuary to the Roseneath peninsula.....

Across the estuary to Dunoon.....

The peaks of Arran on the western horizon.....

Edinburgh Castle

 27 January 2022

Participants: Just me

Where: Edinburgh Castle, 131m/430', P 63m, Tump, OS 66, NT 252 735

Edinburgh Castle is a Tump, probably one of the most visited- if not the most- in the country. How many people know that when they step on to polished rocks outside the door of St Margaret's Chapel that they have summited a Tump?! Mind you, Stirling and Dumbarton castles are also Tumps but they don't get as many visitors. I had been round it before but it must have been ages ago as I don't have any photos so pre-digital age. Today was a really nice day so a great opportunity to put that right. On my way to the Castle, I dropped down into the Grassmarket so that I could climb the steps of the Vennel- to get the classic view of the Castle on its rock from the 50th step.....

Then up to the Castle.....

As this is a hill walking Blog, I am only including views from the castle. I also took photos of some of the buildings and furnishings. There is a lot to see and it was a good time of year to see it. It was busy, but not overly so. 

Looking over the Esplanade to the top of the Royal Mile.....

Views from the battlements. Over Princes Street gardens to Calton Hill (another Tump) and the Forth estuary.....

Over the Gardens to the New Town and the Fife coast.....

To the distant Forth bridges.....

The summit rocks next to Mons Meg.....

Using the cannons for some fancy photos.....

Some more views .....

The One o'clock gun being fired.....

An excellent day out.