pentland pleasure

 

14th Jan.

Mary sometimes gets a notion. In this case it was a walk in the Pentlands. I had been proposing it was far too long since we were there. And suggested we start at Bonaly since I find it so much nicer surroundings right from the get go, than the protracted climb up the ugly side of the hill to the uglier centre and ski-slope at Hillend. However because Mary was calling the shots it was Hillend. Or rather a really early bus to Fairmilehead (the forecast was for early sun and later gloom) from where we walked to the bus terminus at Hillend and up past the even uglier work being started on the leisure centre or zip-wire playground being bulldozed into the ground next to the ugly ski-slope and centre. You can put money on us going to Bonaly to start the next Pentos trip. 

A bus, although in some ways less convenient, has its benefits. (Esp if you're over 60, hurray!) You get to see stuff like this ^ and you can get off at Point A and finish at Point B and get a different bus home. I was interested in the urban camper (below) with festival pop-up tent and pigeon. Is that yellow tin a can of Tennents lager? Quite early to get started on the Sunday morning session, but it would be nicely chilled after a night on Princes Street.

a bit on the early Morningside 

I was pleased we managed to get going first thing: we defo caught the best part of the day. We got off the bus at 8.58am (sandwiches made the night before) and walked to Hillend. There are no photos before we got halfway up Caerketton because as mentioned earlier it was fugly as anything. We took the skyline route as it seemed more gradual than the straight ahead option which was horribly vertical looking. Both end up at the same point soon enough. The sunshine and light frosting made the hills look tremendous. The climb warmed things up considerably and any worries one might not be wearing quite enough in the warm clothing department, were assuaged by the steam piping out every orifice.

looking North to A Seat and Fife

okay the fun starts here

bridges far below

past Allermuir summit

There was quite a lot of squelch but it had mostly cooled to a hard frozen rutted trail with only semi unfrozen moist bits in the deepest swamps. Which could be circumnavigated with dry feet. We both wore Hoka Speedgoats which are comfy trail shoes. But not waterproof.

There were large gangs of roaming hikers with trekking poles aplenty. They were mostly stationary, waiting for tail-end-charlies to catch up with the main group and it was hard not to feel grateful we were travelling lighter and quicker. Or to make quiet comments to that effect outwith their hearing. Good Morning! Yes lovely day!

quite a few runners out and about which reminded us
of days we used to spend here and hopefully will again soon

Prize for least dressed went to the guy in the vest though probably suitable for keeping up with the pace of his less heavily set running partner on the left. Once you are going it is fine to be dressed in summer gear. It's only a problem when you break an ankle and have to wait for the mountain rescue team.

On seeing the 4 dudes eBiking it up Harbour Hill our second thoughts were good on you all getting out in the weather, and up hills, and doing some exercise. Both of us had less generous first reactions to the posse whose expensive ebikes were doing the majority of the work. But then realised they were doing the best possible thing to offset the age and fitness levels they found themselves at. So it was a good thing. Jeez, so critical you two!!! 😇

we didn't go this way

At Maiden's Cleugh we turned right (WNW) and descended to Harlaw. Lovely to bump into Corrie and Blaise although we were so busy chatting I forgot to take a photo till they had set off again. The path went from frozen hard at the top to slushy and waterlogged at the bottom. I took photos of the cormorant and black headed gulls at Harlaw reservoir while Mary used the portaloos. Sadly there was no mobile cabin selling hot snacks and coffees. But probably just as well. We had sandwiches with us but there was no warm dry spot calling out for us to sit down in the chilly wind. 

reservoir beginning to freeze

mistle thrush

bold but cold

There was the delightful sound of geese passing overhead, and we watched and took photos. The image directly above shows that overhead wasn't the only thing they were passing, if you look to the right of the photo.

we exited at the red moss car park and headed downhill to Balerno

why did the pheasant cross the road?

We were tempted to do a round of the boardwalk at Red Moss but the clouds were already closing in and the best of the day was behind us. On the way downhill Mary let me know she'd looked at the bus times and there was one likely leaving in ten minutes. There was something like a mile plus but it was mostly downhill. We explored the idea of running and found it was possible. I was a little ahead but Mary wasn't far behind. Just as we ascended the small hump before the last couple of hundred to the bus terminus I saw the top of "our" bus leaving.

We hadn't even got halfway through our sandwiches before another arrived (ten mins early and every 20minutes even on a Sunday) and so we got a warm comfy seat 'indoors' to enjoy our peekneek before a long top-deck traipse through town to Abbeyhill, where we disembarked cold and stiff-limbed. It's funny how the hour long damp bus ride left us much colder than we had been all the time out on the hills. There's a lot to be said for a good brisk march across the Pentlands! Great day out, we'll be back soon.

top deck sandwich

9 hilly miles in 3hrs20