Walk report, Pentlands 26th January 2125
After storm Eowyn subsided but on a bitterly cold day, Blairgowrie and District hillwalking club enjoyed a wintery meet on the Pentland Hills.
Nineteen members, in two groups, started from Harlaw farm near Balerno and headed towards Maiden’s Cleugh. Normally a gentle approach to the hills but, given the freezing temperature, the walkers faced an icy path that took extra time to cross safely.
After passing through Maidens Cleugh, the A group followed the single-track road on the north side of the Glencorse reservoir to Logan House where they crossed over the Logan burn by a holey and patched bridge. A pleasant and sheltered bank provided a convenient stopping point for their first break. After this they had a fairly relentless ascent up a track then path with fresh (and thankfully "grippy" snow) to the summit of Carnethy Hill. Luckily the summit was clear so they had good views in most directions.
The descent to the col between Carnethy Hill and Scald Law was snowy and icy. At the col they decided they had insufficient time to climb Scald Law so they descended to The Howe at the western end of Loganlee reservoir. Parts of this track were steep and icy so it was a relief to reach the flat valley floor. Just west of The Howe they saw the impressive vertical sandstone and siltstone outcrops of Silurian age (419 million years).
The walk up the "canyon" past the waterfall to Green Cleugh had people asking for their next break. There was still the steep ascent out of the Cleugh (where they saw a sparrowhawk on a fence post). They stopped at a small heather bank a couple of hundred metres further on for their second break.
The final section of the path was both icy and muddy in places with interest provided by crossing the dam over the eastern end of Threipmuir reservoir and a series of fallen trees in the strip of woodland towards Harlaw reservoir. Just as they got to Harlaw house and passed the car park, the forecast snow arrived on a cold easterly wind.
When the B group approached Maiden’s Cleugh they struck off southwards and climbed Bell’s Hill on a faint rising path. Although excellent visibility it was bitterly cold and they did not linger long on the summit before descending back to Maiden’s Cleugh for their first break. Thereafter the group walked on the minor road passing Glencorse and Loganlea reservoirs to Green Cleugh. As they had time, they continued northwards to extend their walk passing Bavelaw castle and Red Moss local nature reserve before returning to Harlaw by walking on the north side of Threipmuir reservoir.
The hills were busy with both walkers and runners and several folk on bikes skittering through the Cleughs.
As well as the perching sparrowhawk, the A group saw several black grouse and the tracks of one mountain hare on Carnethy Hill and the B group added to the bird count by noting several cormorants and goldeneyes on Glencorse reservoir.
