magazine spring 2011 magazine spring 2011 Scotland 10/02/2011 12:02 01 Ring of Steall, , the Highlands 02 Pentland Hills, edinburgh, lothian l Distance 15km/9½ miles l time 9hrs l type glen and mountain l Distance 9½km/6 miles l time 3hrs l type Hill and country

NavigatioN FitNess NavigatioN FitNess 4 level 4 4 level 4 3 level 3 3 level 3

plan your walk plan your walk

edinburgh l

torcastle l l Morningside l tHe HigHLaNDs Liberton l

l Fort William stronchreggan l Fairmilehead l

MiDLotHiaN LotHiaN sNoWsPoRts l Blamachfldach CeNtRe l l Coruanan easter Rosewell

Lodge Howgate l

Where: Classic circular walk Where: Circular walk above glen Nevis near Fort over the Pentland Hills William over four on the outskirts of hy: KEIth FErgUS PhotograPhy: and three other summits. EIth FErgUS K PhotograPhy: edinburgh. Start/end: glen Nevis The Ring of Steall, above Glen of steall gorge high above the Start/end: Midlothian The Pentland Hills run southwest some of the wildlife that can be (NN168691). Nevis, is a classic mountain day- Water of Nevis. the path can snowsports Centre for some 32km/20 miles from the seen en route. terrain: excellent paths trek, taking in seven mountains be uneven at points and care (Nt249670). outskirts of edinburgh towards and tracks through steall over 914m/3,000ft – four of them should be taken. after about terrain: excellent paths the Scottish Borders, and provide 1. START Facing the Midlothian gorge and over mountains. Munros (, Stob 1km, the path emerges from and tracks over hills some remarkable walking and ski Centre car park (Nt249670), there are several steep Choire a’ Chàirn, and the woodland into steall and through countryside, great wildlife – as well as turn R and walk along a grassy ascents and descents Sgùrr a’ Mhàim). Narrow ridges Meadows (NN175691), which with some steep ascents and exquisite views over the city. The path to a steep flight of wooden throughout, making it a link many of the mountains, the provides sumptuous views of descents. most popular route begins at steps. Climb up and turn L, then long, tough day. there’s most spectacular being the Devil’s the and grey Mare’s MapS: os explorer 344; Flotterstone Ranger Centre and R, to ascend a broad, grassy path. also an exposed ridge and Ridge linking Sgurr an Iubhair tail. Continue through the Landranger 66. climbs to the Pentlands’ highest at a fork in the path, go R and a wire bridge en route. and Stob Coire a Mhail. The paths meadows along the main path, GettinG there: Lothian point of Scald law, descending up a narrow path which passes MapS: os explorer 392; are exposed here and could be then bear R on to a narrower Buses run the regular bus via Glencorse Reservoir. However, in-between two grassy knolls. Landranger 41. problematic in winter. There are path leading down to the wire service (4) from edinburgh to an equally alluring route leaves then turn R and immediately GettinG there: there’s astounding views throughout bridge, comprising two cables for Midlothian snowsports from Midlothian Snowsports bear L over a small rise, where no public transport this walk, which travels through hands and one for feet. Carefully Centre (✆ 0871 200 2233, Centre and climbs over the hills the path descends quite steeply direct to the start of the woodland and waterfalls of cross the bridge (or if this doesn’t www.travelinescotland.com). of Caerketton, Allermuir, and to a gate. go through it, then the walk. Regular Steall Gorge to arrive in Steall appeal, remove your boots and eatinG & drinkinG: Capelaw – providing wonderful climb the steep path along a scotrail services or Meadows – home to the fantastic wade across the river) then turn L the steading, edinburgh views across edinburgh and east fence to reach the summit of Citylink bus 915 from Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall. A wire to pass steall Hut. Continue (✆ 0131 445 1128, www. lothian – before returning to Caerketton (Nt236663), which glasgow go to Fort bridge here provides a novel way through wooded slopes and across thesteadingedinburgh. Midlothian Snowsports Centre has breathtaking views across William, where you can of crossing the Water of Nevis to a burn, passing beneath steall co.uk); swanston Farm, through some extremely the Firth of Forth towards Fife get stagecoach bus 41 to reach the base of An Gearanach. Falls. after crossing one more edinburgh (✆ 0131 445 attractive countryside. Paths are and of the conspicuous peaks of glen Nevis Youth Hostel, burn, you’ll reach the base of an 5744, www.swanston.co.uk). excellent throughout, although east and West Lomond. but it’s still a 5km/3-mile 1. START From the car park at gearanach (NN183683). SleepinG: Best Western the moorland around Capelaw is walk to the start the end of the glen Nevis single- Braid Hills, edinburgh featureless apart from the path 2. From Caerketton, continue

(✆ 0871 200 2233, www. track road (NN168691), walk east 2. turn R and climb the initially (✆ 0131 447 8888, and could be tricky in mist. west enjoying a lovely high-level ▼

travelinescotland.com). along an excellent path, climbing steep path, which then zigzags www.bestwestern.co.uk). ▼ Golden plover, lapwing, skylarks, walk along an obvious path with ▼ through the beautiful woodland its way up the rocky slopes with ▼ roe deer and brown hare are just great views of other Pentland 49-50 WALK30 SCOTLAND ROUTEMASTER.indd 1 49-50 WALK30SCOTLAND ROUTEMASTER.indd 2 Ordnance Surveymapping©Crowncopyright.AM34/08 Ordnance Surveymapping©Crowncopyright.AM34/08 START 1 FINISH

Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 66 1:50,000 2 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

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START 1 FINISH

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Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 41 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk 4

continued… that turns L and drops away and continue to a gate. Go superb views along the length of which climbs to the summit of steeply to a fork. Bear R to through and continue to another continued… Glen Nevis and up to . Sgùrr an Iubhair (NN165655). This walk over moorland and across fork in the path and bear R, then The path continues to reach the is where the trickiest part of the ViSitor information: a broad track to reach a stile go through another gate, cross 982m/3,222ft summit of An route begins. It descends Penicuik Tourist Information Eating & drinking: at a gate. Cross over and take another burn and walk by some Gearanach (NN188670), the first northwest to another bealach, Centre is at the town The Ben Nevis, Fort William the L fork to climb the rounded small pockets of woodland to a ✆ of the day. Its central then heads north over the narrow, library, Bellman’s Road ( 01397 702295). slopes of Capelaw Hill. A wide wooden gate. position within The Mamores exposed and ominously-named (✆ 01968 673286). SlEEping: Cruachan path continues steadily over allows for wonderful views of Devil’s Ridge. Depending on your guidEbookS: The Pentland Hotel, Fort William featureless moorland and, just 5. Follow the single-track road ✆ Binnein Mor and Binnein Beag. head for heights, you may want Hills by Susan Falconer (£12, ( 01397 702022, before the summit, fork R onto beyond the gate, which follows to opt for a slightly less exposed Cicerone, ISBN 9781852844943). www.cruachanhotel.co.uk); an indistinct path to reach the the edge of a golf course, to reach 3. From here, continue south path descending L from the ridge. local ramblErS group: Glen Nevis Youth Hostel large metal post at the top of Swanston Steadings (NT239675). ✆ along the narrow ridge over An But whichever route you take Lothian Walkers (www. ( 01397 702336, www. Capelaw Hill (NT216659). Pass through the courtyard and Garbhanach (NN188665). A steep requires extreme care. Once across lothian-borders-ramblers. glennevishostel.co.uk). turn R at a road junction, descent and re-ascent climbs to the ridge, wide, quartzite slopes org.uk). ViSitor information: 4. Descend north from the ascending gradually along the Fort William Tourist the cairn on the second Munro of climb easily to reach Sgùrr a’ Mhàim summit along an obvious road through Swanston to Information Centre, High Stob Coire a’Chàirn (NN185661), (NN165668), the highest Munro of Peaks, such as Scald Law and moorland track to meet with another single-track road. Turn L Street (✆ 0845 2255121, which has a commanding view of the day, presenting great views of Carnethy Hill. A few short ascents a well-worn path. Turn L and and continue to the road’s end. www.visitscotland.com). Am Bodach. The gradient eases Stob Ban and . and descents eventually bring you continue downhill along it, At a Scottish Rights of Way sign, guidEbookS: Ben Nevis and slightly as it descends southwest to a gradual climb over rugged traversing Capelaw to a gate. turn L and walk along the path Glencoe by Ronald Turnbull to reach the base of Am Bodach 5. From here, a path zigzags moorland onto Allemuir’s Go through and follow a through the golf course to reach (£14, Cicerone, ISBN (NN178655). However, a thigh- northwest down an obvious ridge 493m/1,617ft summit (NT227662). broad, grassy path towards a the clubhouse. Bear L onto a 9781852845025). punishing climb southwest up a into Glen Nevis to reach a path by The extensive views reach along forestry plantation. Just before pavement and descend to the local ramblErS groupS: rocky path is required to reach the the Allt Coire a Mhusgain. Bear R, the East Lothian Coastline to reaching it, turn R down to A702. Turn R and walk along Lochaber and Lorn Ramblers lofty summit (NN176651), which following the path down to the North Berwick Law. a fork in the path. Go R, the pavement past The Steading (www.highlandramblers.org. has superb views as far afield as Glen Nevis road at the descending gently past a small restaurant, then turn R to return uk/lochaberandlorn). the Paps of Jura. car park. Cross a bridge, turn R and 3. From the top of Allermuir, wood to reach a stone hut. to the start, at Midlothian follow the road for approximately

10/02/2011 12:03 go through a gate and then Turn L onto a track, cross the Snowsports Centre car park. 4. A path then descends west to a 3km back to the start. descend west, following a path narrow Howden Burn (NT222672) Route devised by Keith Fergus narrow bealach (Gaelic for ‘pass’), Route devised by Keith Fergus