The Pentland Hills Were the ‘Hills of Home’
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
To Robert Louis Stevenson the Pentland Hills were the ‘Hills of Home’. The Pentlands are often described as lighthouse. the for foundations the provides now which of base the Rock, Bass the on castle who led the horse at the battles of Rullion Green and Bothwell Bridge. In April 1682 he stood trial in Edinburgh, was sentenced to death, but was imprisoned in the the in imprisoned was but death, to sentenced was Edinburgh, in trial stood he 1682 April In Bridge. Bothwell and Green Rullion of battles the at horse the led who John Stirling Stirling John Edinburgh’s lungs. The Friends of the Pentlands seek to protect and enhance the Pentlands, but we also wish leader, Covenanter notable a (1606-93), Newholm of Learmonth Joseph Major commemorates plaque a church, same the In church. Dolphinton within located Dr Manuel of Dunsyre. The original stone was inscribed simply ‘COVENTER DUNSYRE 1666’, and is now now is and 1666’, DUNSYRE ‘COVENTER simply inscribed was stone original The Dunsyre. of Manuel Dr It is thought that the Covenanter’s name was John Carphin. The present stone was erected c.1841 by Rev Rev by c.1841 erected was stone present The Carphin. John was name Covenanter’s the that thought is It to encourage responsible access. Stirling John Mankind and nature interacted in the Pentlands long before the term ‘recreation’ was coined. Visitors today visible. is Muirkirk), of Sanderson of Blackhill, carried the body to a spot from where the distant hill of Cairn Table (a little south south little (a Table Cairn of hill distant the where from spot a to body the carried Blackhill, of Sanderson can pursue investigative and recreational activities in a working environment that exudes cultural and natural Adam shepherd, The county. home his hills, Ayrshire the of sight with buried be he die, he should that, through the hills to a shepherd’s cottage near Medwynhead where he rested. The Covenanter requested requested Covenanter The rested. he where Medwynhead near cottage shepherd’s a to hills the through heritage and significant biodiversity. Visit, relax, enjoy and respect. miles 11 way his made and escaped but Green Rullion at wounded was He buried. was Covenanter A small headstone on Black Law in the southern Pentlands marks the spot where an unknown unknown an where spot the marks Pentlands southern the in Law Black on headstone small A battle of Pentland, of battle THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE ACCESS & ACTIVITIES the name: alternative the Hence Pentland?” at you “Were was: Covenanters suspected of persecutors the named on the memorial stone erected at the site on 28 September 1738). One of the questions asked by by asked questions the of One 1738). September 28 on site the at erected stone memorial the on named Geology of the Pentlands Access (both MacCormick Andrew Rev and Crookshank John Rev ministers, Irish two including battlefield, The oldest rocks in the Pentland Hills were formed 430 million years ago under the ocean. Since the passing of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act by the new the on buried were Most Kirkyards. Glencorse and Penicuik at interred were dead the of Some people. They formed from mud, silt and sand which were washed into an ocean which separated two Scottish Parliament in 2003, ‘freedom to roam’ has been enshrined local by buried being before day a and night a for left bodies the and clothes their of stripped were continents. These two continents came together and the rocks that had formed under the ocean in Scots law, thereby formalising the long-standing tradition of dead the tradition, to According prisoner. taken number that twice perhaps with killed, were 50 About were folded and uplifted to form land. These vertical layers of rocks can be seen clearly at the unhindered access to open countryside in Scotland. Alongside the force. superior the to succumbed eventually but hours three about for own their held Covenanters The Outdoor Access Code, this new Act places clear responsibilities on Howe, to the west of Loganlea Reservoir. Binns. the of Dalzell Tam General under troops government 3,000 by Flotterstone) visitors as well as conferring rights of access to most (but not all) parts A later period of volcanic activity produced most (above Green Rullion of battle the at defeated were 1666 November 28 on and city, the enter to failed they Edinburgh, on marched Covenanters 900 of the countryside. It also places rights and responsibilities on all other of the rocks and hills in the Pentlands. Volcanic Around II. Charles by imposed persecutions the against rose Covenanters the when 1666 November 13 on Galloway in began Rising Pentland The land users, not least on land and recreational managers of all kinds. vents situated near Swanston and Colinton Peter C Harnden Covenanters produced ash and lava which created rocks Know the Code accumulated to over a kilometre in thickness. You have the right to be on most land and water for recreation, education and for going from again. gaze – dreaming – Caerketton steep or Allermuir, topmost from Halkerside, from – I that meseems and vanish: tropics “The wrote: he there From 44. aged Samoa in death his of time the to up Pentlands (1850-1894) lived at Swanston with his parents from 1867 to 1880, and it is widely believed that Swanston was the birthplace of his genius. He certainly retained vivid memories of the the of memories vivid retained certainly He genius. his of birthplace the was Swanston that believed widely is it and 1880, to 1867 from parents his with Swanston at lived (1850-1894) A visit to any of the high hills will allow you to place to place providing you act responsibly; accordingly you should take note of the following Stevenson Louis Robert find dark-coloured rock produced by one of these when you are in the outdoors: relationship. that imbue to Pentlands the in him joined letters of men when Club’ Friday ‘Bonaly the up ancient volcanoes. • Take personal responsibility for your own actions and act safely; set Cockburn genius’. of ‘hot-bed a as described then city, the and Bonaly between relationship the loved He enlightenment. Scottish the in figure central a was Cockburn people. and events on commentator (1779-1854) set up his country home at Bonaly Tower when he married in 1811 and he died there in 1854. Like Scott, Cockburn was a lawyer, but he was also a conservationist and a brilliant brilliant a and conservationist a also was he but lawyer, a was Cockburn Scott, Like 1854. in there died he and 1811 in married he when Tower Bonaly at home country his up set (1779-1854) Around 370 million years ago in rivers and lakes • Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind; Cockburn Henry sandstone was deposited which can best be seen • Help land managers and others to work safely and effectively; sky”. frosty clear a against Carnethy of ridge the than beautiful more anything saw never I think “I times: those of memory this us left He Pentlands. northern the in walking enjoyed and Woodhouselee on East and West Cairn Hills. The Pentland Fault, • Care for your environment and take you litter home; visited regularly he period that During 1804. to 1798 from use summer for Lasswade at cottage a rented Scott successful. hugely was novel, , his first first his , Waverley 1814, in anonymously Published novel. historical the of genre the of founder the as renowned is (1771-1832) running along the route of the A702, lifted the • Keep your dog under proper control; Scott Walter older rocks of Pentlands up beside younger rocks. • Take extra care if you are organising an event or running a business. change. of espousal the and superstitions; and ways rural old rich; the by poor the of exploitation the During the Ice Age the shape of the hills we see www.outdoorsaccess-scotland.com or Scottish Natural Heritage www.snh.gov.uk 0131 316 2600 harvests; poor the time: the of sorrows and joys the reflect poems His 1801. in published was poetry of volume first His verse. and song composed (1763-1832) lived in a small cottage called Mount Parnassus at Mid-Kinleith. Thomson worked as a weaver but in the evenings evenings the in but weaver a as worked Thomson Mid-Kinleith. at Parnassus Mount called cottage small a in lived (1763-1832) today was formed by erosion. Ice flowed over the Hill Walking & Orienteering Thomson James tops rounding them off and meltwater eroded Walking in the Pentland Hills is a popular form of exercise, but Calvinism. of codes strict the of face the in tradition theatrical the glens and cleuchs. there are also opportunities for many other kinds of activity. Scottish the reviving with credited is and English and Scots both in wrote Ramsay Carlops. near Newhall, at set was and success massive a was (1725), (1725), Shepherd Gentle The drama, pastoral His tradition. literary Scottish the of development the in pioneer a was (1686-1758) Orienteering is an exciting, challenging activity for all ages and Ramsay Allan Wildlife abilities. The basic principles are not difficult. Keep your north Connections Literary The varied habitats of the Pentlands give rise to lines on the map aligned with north on your compass, and keep rich diversity of wildlife. Grasslands are home to reservoir. Glencorse of waters the now beneath which are of remains the Hopes the in St Katherine of it aligned every time you change direction. No matter how Scott Whitelaw brown hares, short-eared owls, common shrew chapel the built William Sir deliverance his of recognition In Loganhouse.