Caerketton and Allermuir – The Pentland Tops above Edinburgh
Caerketton and Allermuir are the Pentland tops that stand right over Edinburgh.
From Hillend a steep pull beside the ski slope gains the ridge, with the whole city and the Firth of Forth spread out below. The way down passes the thatched, whitewashed cottages of Swanston, where Robert Louis Stevenson spent part of his childhood. It's a hill walk of 6 km with 385 metres of climbing, and there's a shorter waymarked round for a quicker outing.
- Time
- Two and a half to three and a half hours for the hill round: 6 km (3.75 miles) with 385 metres of climbing. The park's Capital View walk is 2.5 miles (4 km), graded moderate.
- The path
- Hill paths, steep, and rough and wet in places.
- Where to start
- The lower car park at Hillend, below the snowsports centre, off the A702. Read the board for any charge. Buses 4, 15, 101 and 102 serve Hillend.
- When to go
- All year in daylight and settled weather. Under snow or ice it is a winter hill walk. From November to January set off by 11am.
- Dogs
- On a short lead or close at heel among sheep; follow any diversion at lambing time.
- Children
- A steep hill walk, for children used to hills.
- Before you set out
- Open to the wind, and the weather changes quickly. Under snow or ice it is a winter hill walk.
The walk
Start at the lower car park at Hillend, below the snowsports centre, off the A702 on the southern edge of Edinburgh. Read the board there for any charge. Lothian buses 4 and 15 and the 101 and 102 all serve Hillend, by the Regional Park's own list. Check the times before you go. The park's own round from here is the Capital View walk, waymarked with a castle. It's 2.5 miles and graded moderate, with a steep climb through the country park to the top of the ski slope and Swanston village on the way back.
The fuller hill round keeps to the ridge over Caerketton Hill, 478 metres, to Allermuir Hill, 493 metres, before it comes down to Swanston. Walkhighlands gives that as 6 km with 385 metres of climbing and allows two and a half to three and a half hours. Allermuir has a view indicator on top, with Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat and the Forth laid out in front. Swanston is a cluster of thatched, whitewashed cottages. They're people's homes, so look from the lane. The hill paths are steep, and rough and wet in places.
Sheep graze here, so keep dogs on a short lead or close at heel, and follow any diversion at lambing time. The ridge is open to the wind and the weather changes quickly: take waterproofs, a map and a torch, and read the mountain forecast first. Under snow or ice this is a winter hill walk, for people with the kit and the experience. From November to January, set off by 11am.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the ridge and the grass paths are slippery when wet. In rain or low cloud there's no view either, so keep this one for a clear day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
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For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by exploringedinburgh