During lockdown some folk have been “running up Ben Nevis”, or similar, by way of stair reps. Or running round ‘n round their wee patch of garden grass several thousand times to clock up a marathon or more. These are certainly challenges, but don’t really appeal to me. Being in Colinton I’m fortunate in being pretty proximate to the Pentlands; and think I have managed to stay within the “Rules”, though sometimes these have been somewhat ambiguous / unclear. Anyway, all my outings have been on foot from home, and solo. I’ve got to know Capelaw, and its neighbours, pretty well! The challenge I set myself has been to see how far I can get without touching a gate (for fear of catching you-know-what), or clambering over a gate / fence (for the same reason; and also so as to not upset the farming fraternity). The pedestrian gate @ Bonaly car park has been officially removed, which has aided this challenge; but the gates at the top of the Bonaly woods are still in situ. However, after going through the non-gate by Bonaly car park, if I go up ‘n over White Hill, I can then hop over the stile (permitted by my rules, as nothing is handled); and head on eastwards to Allermuir / Capelaw.
Going westwards I can get much further. Heading upstream on the Water of Leith (rather too many people for my liking) to Currie, then meandering up to the Harlaw reservoir car park via Lymphoy and pleasant trails-through-the woods. Tarmac can be minimised by experimenting with different trail options. As with Bonaly car park, the pedestrian gate by the Harlaw visitor centre has been officially removed. So, through the gap, and anticlockwise by Harlaw reservoir, turn left by the Threipmuir dam, then eastwards round the north side of Threipmuir reservoir. This takes me to the stile by the stone Black Springs waterworks building. Over the stile there (no touching!), with Black Hill looming ahead. Up Black Hill, avoiding knee high heather; and on to the Pentlands Skyline route off Black Hill, up ‘n down Bell’s Hill to Maiden’s Cleuch. And here is my one and only gate. Arrrgggh! (Though I could avoid it, by going over the stone stile here; but that would later give me 2 gates to negotiate.) Still following the Pentland Skyline race route then, taking in Harbour Hill and on to Capelaw, and the Capelaw ridge. Over the large wooden stile that would take me to Allermuir and on to Caerketton; but I need to get home before teatime. So instead of going up Allermuir I head down left on the main track to the stone waterboard building. Take a left here, and uphill again to the left to take me over the metal stile to the summit of White Hill. A variety of options down to the missing gate by Bonaly car park; and homewards from there, hopefully in time for tea. I haven’t yet worked out how to avoid the one gate @ Maiden’s Cleuch that the route involves……
Murdo McEwan