The Dog Rambler
Tuesday
10 E-diary
May 2010
Walk The four tops – in The Pentlands Length 6.3
miles
Dogs on walk Dylan, Isla, Otis, Struan and Talaidh
Into the Pentlands today to take on its biggest hill, Scald Law and three surrounding
peaks. It was bright sunshine but still, as with recent days, a chill northern wind continued
to blow from the arctic really undermining the work of the sun.
Isla met Struan and Talaidh for the first time today but did not get a chance to really
make their acquaintance properly until we arrived at the walk. Struan and Talaidh were in
the boot while Isla had the luxury of the back seat. Otis and Isla also met for the first time
when Otis was helped into the seat next to her. They gave each other a slightly timid and
tentative sniff before settling down to travel to the start of the walk. Dylan was already in
the boot with Struan and Talaidh by the time we picked up Oits.
It was not too far to the start of the walk. A short journey along the A702, paralleling the
Pentlands as the hills climb from Hillend then decend to the bowl glen of Flotterston before
climbing away with the highest of the Pentland hills. As we drew closer to the v shaped dip
between the imposing mass of Carnethy Hill and the higher Scald Law with its several
smaller tops spreading its girth, dominantly over the landscape, we parked in the ‘walkers’
lay-by.
Over one mile in front of us we could just see to top of Scald Law our first destination. Our
route to it was along the ‘Kirk Road’. A path several hundred years old that was trodden
on a Sunday by the residents of the Logan Valley, on the other side of the hills, to cross the
hills and reach their church in the small town of Penicuik, over 7 miles away. In the sad
times of death, coffins would also be brought over this path for their mournful farewell in
the church.
We were using it for happier purposes today and once beyond the roaming sheep and
lambs along the first section of the Kirk Road the dogs had a chance to really get to know
each other. Having sat next to each other in the Jeep, Otis and Isla were off on a chase
across the rising and falling slope of the scrubby field; instant friends.
But she had not forgotten Dylan from her previous walk and was soon following him
deeper into the heather, once we had passed through a gate onto the climb up the sides of
the hill. Throughout the walk Isla was interchanging her play or following between Dylan
and Otis. Yet there was little messing around between Dylan and Otis today. Otis would
play for a bit with Isla then come and join me and Talaidh as we ambled along. Dylan
would play with Isla, then begin to range off ahead along the path or off it, with Struan
vaguely but not too enthusiastically following at some distance.
The Kirk Raod took a fairly straight course up toward the bealach between the two hills.
The north wind in our faces with the sides of hills funnelling it into a really chill blast. We
crossed a narrow, inviting stream from which the dogs drunk liberally to set themselves up
for the swelling climb ahead. Some sheep in the gully falling away to our right looked up as
we passed above them. The dogs looked down some with ears pricked and heads cocked
but some gentle encouragement pushed them onwards and away from them.
We reached the bealach and now moved off the Kirk Road, which continued downwards
into the Logan Valley. We would meet up with it again down there later. Instead we bore
left onto the distinct path zig-zagging its way up the increasingly steep side of Scald Law.
It was mainly heather covered with a gentle purplish hue nearly lost in the deep warm
browns of the still largely sleeping heather. It was punctuated in places by swathes of
waving grasses, their winter yellow stalks slowly being consumed by the spreading green of
Spring growth.
As I pushed my way up the hill, grateful for the path to help me, the dogs ignored the
path and tumbled through the springy heather or bowled over the grasses. Looking up they
kept getting smaller as they raced ahead sometime disappearing over the brow higher up.
In Particular, Dylan and Isla would disappear in their excitement of chasing each other and
have to be called back, often popping up behind me, having circled back around out of
sight. Otis and Talaidh were never too keen to roam too far would and not dream of
letting me out of their sight. Struan just panted about here and there paying no particular
attention to anyone else.
We rounded the summit with its wide shallow cairn offering protection for the wind, no
matter which side it blows from. The views all around opened up with hill and mountain
ranges in all directions, leaving us on a small island of hills. The dogs sniffed around the
cairn in hope of some discarded lunch or picnic pickings before we rambled onwards to the
linked summit of South Black Hill a short distance to our left and only a small descent and
reclimb.
From here we headed back toward the main track by walking along the western edge of
the hill’s ridge. Once on the track it was another climb, first up onto East Kip and then
West Kip, where a group of young walkers could not resist petting the dogs. As we met we
were also greeted by a flurry of snow, outrageous at this time of year. All four hills
conquered, the dogs ran down the last one, where we joined a path leading us through the
Logan Valley. Once populated but now its only residents are scattered sheep. Making our
way through the sheep meant the dogs had to go on their leads from time to time.
The path took us down into the Glen with is shallow river where the dogs topped up on
water. Then it was back up toward the bleach by rejoining the Kirk Road, only this time
on the opposite side of the hills. The flurry of snow came upon us again but proceeded to
increase in intensity leaving a dotting of snow on the ground and the dogs back, and
threatening to obscure or view, until it receded again.
Back over the other side we descended toward the Jeep. As we neared it the dogs had one
last mad dash about involving all but Talaidh, who just stood in the middle of a stream
giving them all a slight look of disdain. Then it was back into the Jeep and the journey
home.
Nick
Photo slideshow from the walk
E-diaries now also available at [Link]/TheDogRambler
Follow The Dog Rambler on Facebook
Nick Fletcher
The Dog Rambler
9 Links Street
Musselburgh [Link]
East Lothian nick@[Link]
EH21 6JL t. 0131 665 8843 or 0781 551 6765
Your dog walking service for active dogs
