West Cairn Hill , Pentlands

I decided to have a little stroll in the southern part of Pentland Hills this time - usually when I want to stretch my bones out a bit , I go to the northern part of Pentlands, just by the Edinburgh's bypass . So I hit the road down into the borders , along the A702 road and  West Linton is the best place to explore this area . My goal was to climb the West Cairn Hill (562 m) and possibly East Cairn too . In reality the whole walk took me much more time then I had suspected , so finally I came back to my starting point in West Linton  without any attempt to get the top of East Cairn .

In West Linton I turned to the right and followed the asphalt road ( on the photograph ) to the local golf course , through which runs another dust road to the west (drove road ) . I was going to loop via Catstone Hill , Fadden Hill and Craigengar Hill , eventually getting to West Cairn .

At that point the track splits ,and I followed the path to the right up the grassy hill . In the background view of Bleak Law .

Along the fence the track runs toward the Catstone Hill .

The wide track leads through the heather- covered  hills and up Fadden Hill .

Continuing to the north , I saw the long ridge of the Craigengar . At first I thought it was West Cairn itself , so I walked across a bit boggy plateau making shortcut. After climbing the hill I learned my destination was still ahead .

View from Craigengar , down the waters of West Water Reservoir

The next obstacle on the way to West Cairn's top, Wolf Crag , starts the series of rocky outdrops scattered on the slopes .The tiny path crosses the fence and goes up to the left , following the main ridge strightly to the top of West Cairn .

The crags near the top of West Cairn Hill , overlooking Craigengar Hill

The summit of West Cairn isn't spectacular , with a small cairn . There is a view of twin East Cairn Hill , separated only by the broad pass , called Cauld Stane Slap .

From the hill's top I descended quickly to the pass along the wall , where I coul find the road back .

Through the pass between West and East Cairn Hills runs the old road , called Thieves Road . I belive the name derives from the times when stolen cattle were driven away this very road . Anyway it suggests that . At that point the wall leads to the ridge of East Cairn , but I gave up climbing up this hill , planning to do that on another occasion , maybe soon . Instead I took the dusty road heading back to the golf course in West Linton , where I had left my car .

The final section of the circuit I made led me through pleasant heather areas , via Baddinsgill Farm ,  from where the road becomes an asphalt road .It seemed to me that walking this road was never-ending story.Definatelly I prefer walking over the hills , somehow . But it was a good day on the hills , though.