Pentland Hills
Pentland Hills
4.8
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Pentland Hills and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
4 within 3 miles
Attractions
8 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.8
193 reviews
Excellent
154
Very good
37
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Mike O
Roanoke, VA1,341 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
The Pentland Hills, which stretch from the edge of the city for miles and miles, provide the perfect opportunity for a taste of some of the stunning Scottish countryside. Vires from the treeless hills extend to the horizon. An abundance of trails, and opportunities for off-trail hiking, offer limitless choices. Public but rail heads.s service many of the
Written November 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,135 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
The Pentlands Hills have several hills in sequence which make for a challenging half day hike. One that we like to do is Carnethy Hil, Scald Law, West Kip and East Kip, then return in the opposite direction. This would take about 4 hours although the latter 3 hills are steep that will leave a lot of people breathless. It can also get very windy to the point where you're being blown a couple of metres.
There's also flatter routes on the north side of the reservoirs which do eventually take hikers to the aforementioned hills as well. However, there are so many options for hiking routes, these hills have plenty of revisit value
There is a good sized car park next to the Pentland Hills Cafe Express which is a good starting point for all walks.
There's also flatter routes on the north side of the reservoirs which do eventually take hikers to the aforementioned hills as well. However, there are so many options for hiking routes, these hills have plenty of revisit value
There is a good sized car park next to the Pentland Hills Cafe Express which is a good starting point for all walks.
Written January 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
matthew p
Edinburgh, UK121 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Getting to the pentland hills is easy enough you can go by bicycle or by car or by bus, the number 10 Lothian bus goes to a place called Torphin and from here the bus stops for 10 minutes or so, so you can depart from the bus here then just explore whats around you. There is a visitor centre at flotterstone which is free to enter from the Swanston Road end which has a cafe inside and info about the pentlands .There was another visitor centre at Harlow but has been shut since covid which is a shame really as this had a map room, toilets and information about the hills. maybe one day it will open again but i dont know if ever.
Written October 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
simonevans1160
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Dec 2020
Whilst this is a beautiful place , there are a few caveats people should be aware of I believe.
Sheep.
1here are always sheep somewhere roaming free , and several fields with cattle as well. The number and range of the sheep makes it impossible to let a dog of the lead here as they (sheep) can suddendly appear from behind the next gorse bush. It is possible to walk the lowerSW area by the resevoirs sheep free buti n summer this is very very crowded. I walk my dogs here in winter only.
The water in the reservoirs occasionally has toxic algae blooms.
The weather can be extreme on the hills , the whole are is usually several degrees colder than the city , and in winter has snow when nowhere else does.
Mud , plenty of it.
Sheep.
1here are always sheep somewhere roaming free , and several fields with cattle as well. The number and range of the sheep makes it impossible to let a dog of the lead here as they (sheep) can suddendly appear from behind the next gorse bush. It is possible to walk the lowerSW area by the resevoirs sheep free buti n summer this is very very crowded. I walk my dogs here in winter only.
The water in the reservoirs occasionally has toxic algae blooms.
The weather can be extreme on the hills , the whole are is usually several degrees colder than the city , and in winter has snow when nowhere else does.
Mud , plenty of it.
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bethcar31
Bushmills, UK165 contributions
Feb 2023
If you have time, do look up the various walks on these beautiful hills that guard the historic City of Edinburgh to the south. There are several circular walks of varying lengths and difficulty that can be undertaken in this area. Many give outstanding views of the city, while others allow you t immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of the countryside. A great place to visit.
Written February 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eva
10 contributions
Oct 2019
Wheater you are a trai- runner, walker, mountainbiker or a family looking for day out in nature, go to the Pantlands! Several buses can take you there from the city to explore lots of different paths from easy to challanging terrain. You can get amazing views over the Firth-of-Forth and Edinburgh when going up the hills around Hillend or remote water falls and cliffs when starting from Flotterstone. Flotterstone should anyways be visited as it has a lovely Cafe!
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ItTastesLikeFeet
Edinburgh, UK488 contributions
Feb 2021 • Solo
Currently still blanketed with snow so walks are a little more treacherous but still beautiful. Lovely trails with differing difficulties so there is something for everyone. The car parks get full (particularly on weekends) so arrive early to avoid a fine for parking on the road!
Written February 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DantesDame
Basel, Switzerland231 contributions
Jul 2023
This park is so easy to get to from the city (Lothian Buses) and it provides a wonderful, natural get away. There are many trails to choose from, the landscape is beautiful. When we walked through, there were many sheep but now Highland cows, unfortunately.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek G
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom5,168 contributions
Nov 2011 • Solo
The Pentlands are a series of hills SW of Edinburgh, starting right on the outskirts. There are lots of ways onto the hills, and many require cars to be convenient, however bus access is easy from Hillend, Bonaly, Flotterstone and Carlops, so longs you time it right.
If you're visiting Edinburgh, you should really try to get out of town for a day. Why not build that into your programme? The details below recommend a short walk for those who like country but not hills, of a full day out for those who need to regenerate after a few days around town.
Flotterstone is recommended for gentle walks of any length, a road from there penetrates into the middle of the hills, passing two reservoirs. You might see dippers, cuckoos Peregrines depending on where and when. Take a picnic.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=321852&Y=662955&A=Y&Z=120 for map details, but you can see the rout on the day at the Ranger Centre.
I'll look at Hillend as a starting point for ascents to some tops.
Firstly there's a nice pub at the bottom of the hill, with good food, so mark it down for the return leg. There's a short road up to the ski centre if you want to gain a little height before walking.
From the ski centre you can head straight South (and straight up) and there are paths which zigzag up the hills past the ski slopes, coming out on Caerketton Hill at a height of about 480 metres (over 1500 feet)
Again from the Ski Centre you can walk up the woodlands on the right hand side then strike due West, traversing the hillside. You can then ascend either the left or the right of Allermuir Hill 490 metres (about 1600 feet).
I recommend you go up one way and down the other. The two peaks are no distance apart.
Map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=323512&Y=666710&A=Y&Z=120
About 1 hour 30 minutes if you crack on at a good speed, two hours or more if you'e more relaxed (?) about ascending.
The classic Pentlands day out.
I usually take a bus down to Carlops and walk a number of tops heading back to Edinburgh. This can be shortened somewhat by getting off the bus at Ninemileburn.
At the N end of Carlops there's a little footpath heading onto the hills. You can follow this awhile, then ascend rightwards up the slopes until you can see more clearly you have now hit a ridge. From then on (in good weather) it's plain sailing, and the route goes Patie's Hill, Spittal Hill, Greenlaw, East Kip, West Kip, Scald Law, Carnethy, Turnhouse. From there you can descend to Flotterstone Inn (pub, car park, ranger centre, bus)
Here's the first part as a map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=316672&Y=657215&A=Y&Z=120
Alternatively you could descend NE to Glencorse reservoir, cross the road and then ascend West of Castlelaw Hill, then climbing Allermuir and Caerketton, before descending to the ski centre and then to the main road (good pub, buses).
The full route is a proper day out with quite a few miles, mostly on decent paths but quite a lot of up and down. Call it 20 Km, and over 1000 metres ascent, making a 5-6 hour journey at least, probably longer. Even the shorter route to Flotterstone is not for the unfit at 13-14 Km and over 700 metres of ascent making a 4-5 hour trip, even at a decent pace.
I like hills and mountains and I'm out in the Pentlands regularly. The long route is my favourite Pentlands leg-stretcher. If you too like hills you won't regret a permutation of the above: nice hills, you'll bump into a few nice people along the way, and the views are superb especially from Allermuir northwards.
None of the above is technically difficult but you need to be hill-fit to get the best out of it. And it's boots not shoes ...
If you're visiting Edinburgh and thinking about a walk, you an always 'ask' me a question and I'll try to help.
If you're visiting Edinburgh, you should really try to get out of town for a day. Why not build that into your programme? The details below recommend a short walk for those who like country but not hills, of a full day out for those who need to regenerate after a few days around town.
Flotterstone is recommended for gentle walks of any length, a road from there penetrates into the middle of the hills, passing two reservoirs. You might see dippers, cuckoos Peregrines depending on where and when. Take a picnic.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=321852&Y=662955&A=Y&Z=120 for map details, but you can see the rout on the day at the Ranger Centre.
I'll look at Hillend as a starting point for ascents to some tops.
Firstly there's a nice pub at the bottom of the hill, with good food, so mark it down for the return leg. There's a short road up to the ski centre if you want to gain a little height before walking.
From the ski centre you can head straight South (and straight up) and there are paths which zigzag up the hills past the ski slopes, coming out on Caerketton Hill at a height of about 480 metres (over 1500 feet)
Again from the Ski Centre you can walk up the woodlands on the right hand side then strike due West, traversing the hillside. You can then ascend either the left or the right of Allermuir Hill 490 metres (about 1600 feet).
I recommend you go up one way and down the other. The two peaks are no distance apart.
Map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=323512&Y=666710&A=Y&Z=120
About 1 hour 30 minutes if you crack on at a good speed, two hours or more if you'e more relaxed (?) about ascending.
The classic Pentlands day out.
I usually take a bus down to Carlops and walk a number of tops heading back to Edinburgh. This can be shortened somewhat by getting off the bus at Ninemileburn.
At the N end of Carlops there's a little footpath heading onto the hills. You can follow this awhile, then ascend rightwards up the slopes until you can see more clearly you have now hit a ridge. From then on (in good weather) it's plain sailing, and the route goes Patie's Hill, Spittal Hill, Greenlaw, East Kip, West Kip, Scald Law, Carnethy, Turnhouse. From there you can descend to Flotterstone Inn (pub, car park, ranger centre, bus)
Here's the first part as a map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=316672&Y=657215&A=Y&Z=120
Alternatively you could descend NE to Glencorse reservoir, cross the road and then ascend West of Castlelaw Hill, then climbing Allermuir and Caerketton, before descending to the ski centre and then to the main road (good pub, buses).
The full route is a proper day out with quite a few miles, mostly on decent paths but quite a lot of up and down. Call it 20 Km, and over 1000 metres ascent, making a 5-6 hour journey at least, probably longer. Even the shorter route to Flotterstone is not for the unfit at 13-14 Km and over 700 metres of ascent making a 4-5 hour trip, even at a decent pace.
I like hills and mountains and I'm out in the Pentlands regularly. The long route is my favourite Pentlands leg-stretcher. If you too like hills you won't regret a permutation of the above: nice hills, you'll bump into a few nice people along the way, and the views are superb especially from Allermuir northwards.
None of the above is technically difficult but you need to be hill-fit to get the best out of it. And it's boots not shoes ...
If you're visiting Edinburgh and thinking about a walk, you an always 'ask' me a question and I'll try to help.
Written January 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rs042114b
Glasgow, UK55 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
Glencorse reservoir Walk is a beautiful scenic walk that all the family can enjoy!
Park in the free car park by the Ranger Centre, just off the A702 by the Flotterstone Inn. The Ranger Centre has free toilets! Follow the signs for the reservoir and this takes you trough two gates in quick succession to enter woodland, passing what were once the filter beds to purify the water from the reservoir, as well as a small derelict cottage. Leave the path to photograph a cascading waterfall on the left then rejoin the path as it leaves the burn and bears slightly right to climb up through the pinewoods, emerging at a gate onto the minor road above. Turn left here and follow the road, coming to Glencorse Reservoir. Then return along the tarmac road or retrace your steps through the wood. It is a very enjoyable walk for all the family and you may see birds of prey and various other birds and wildlife.
Park in the free car park by the Ranger Centre, just off the A702 by the Flotterstone Inn. The Ranger Centre has free toilets! Follow the signs for the reservoir and this takes you trough two gates in quick succession to enter woodland, passing what were once the filter beds to purify the water from the reservoir, as well as a small derelict cottage. Leave the path to photograph a cascading waterfall on the left then rejoin the path as it leaves the burn and bears slightly right to climb up through the pinewoods, emerging at a gate onto the minor road above. Turn left here and follow the road, coming to Glencorse Reservoir. Then return along the tarmac road or retrace your steps through the wood. It is a very enjoyable walk for all the family and you may see birds of prey and various other birds and wildlife.
Written October 17, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There's a car parking?
What's the best way to go from Livingston?
Written December 30, 2019
It says it is closed on Sunday!! Is that true? Or i can still have a walk but a cafe or the restaurant is closed?
Written February 4, 2017
Only information centre is closed. As it a park, there's no opening times as such - you can come and enjoy paths and hills whenever you like :) Restaurant-pub near by is open 7days as well.
Written February 7, 2017
is this transvestite friendly were we can walk in piece
Written May 7, 2016
amy9876543210
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hi guys, could you let me know how to see this Glencorse View Walk without having a car? I am a student so I can go there by either bus or walking. Cheers :)
Written February 16, 2015
Showing results 1-5 of 5
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing