Walk Distance: Glencorse Reservoir walk – 6km; Loganlee & Glencorse Reservoirs walk – 11.3km
Walk Duration: Glencorse Reservoir – 1hr 45 ; Loganlee and Glencorse Reservoirs walk – 3 hr
OS Map: OS Landranger Edinburgh 66; OS Landranger Falkirk and Linlithgow 65; OS Explorer Pentland Hills 344
Suitable for: Pushchairs, baby slings and carriers, little legs, older children.
Walk features: Lakeside walking, mountain scenery, refreshments, pub, baby changing & public facilities;
Walk description:
Looking for a peaceful pushchair walk that takes in mountain scenery and waterside wandering, all only 30 minutes drive from Edinburgh?
Hard surfaces and quiet scenic lanes make this perfect pushchair walking.
The Pentland Hills Regional Park just south of Scotland’s capital city offer fantastic walking including some lovely options for families and even a pushchair route. This walk is through the heart of the Pentland Hills Regional Park and follows a quiet access lane along the side of two reservoirs nestling beneath the surrounding hills. The route returns along the same path so you can choose to turn around when you’ve walked as far as you like and experienced enough of the dramatic Pentland Hills scenery for one day. We suggest walking to the end of Glencorse Reservoir and back for a shorter walk option or continuing with the pushchair to the tea hut at the fishing lodge by the side of the Loganlee Reservoir if you fancy a longer Pentland walk. The longer option is also a fantastic alternative for those seeking a low-level route whilst more energetic members of their group tackle the Pentland Peaks walk. Both walks start from the same car park and have the option, if timed right, for the pushchair walkers to join the peak baggers on the final stretch back together from where the two routes coincide at the end of Loganlee Reservoir.
The Pentland Pushchair Reservoirs walk starts from the Flotterstone Information Centre, located just behind the Flotterstone Inn, just off the A702. Car parking for the Pentland Hills Regional Park is available at the centre although do get here fairly promptly on a weekend as it can get busy. There are good toilet facilities here, including accessible toilets and baby changing facilities and there are also picnic tables and even a bbq area for public use – remember to bring your sausages and some charcoal! Kids can pick up activity leaflets and find out about what is exciting to look out for in the Pentland Hills park at the time of their visit.
Kids will love the many lambs here in the springtime!
Begin the walk from the car park. Walk past the visitor centre and keeping to the right of the roadway and burn, take the path behind the toilet facilities that heads out under the trees, running adjacent to the road. At the end of the path you will rejoin the lane. Turn to your right and continue up the lane and, if splitting from a group heading off on the Pentlands Peaks walk, say goodbye to them here as the footpaths head off up into the Pentland hilltops whilst you stay on firm ground and take in the majesty of the Pentland Peaks from a ground level! Be prepared for a bit of a push as the lane now heads gradually uphill. Remember to keep to your right hand side – whilst there is very limited traffic on the lane, which is an approach to the fishing lodge, it is safer to be facing traffic coming towards you face on.
At the top of the lane you will come to the fishing club house and the edge of Glencorse Reservoir. Walk past the house and continue on the lane, enjoying the views as the Pentland hills begin to open up across the reservoir. The lane, already quiet, should see very little indeed in the way of traffic now as the road is accessible only for members of the fishing club wanting to get to Loganlee Resevoir or for access to a very few houses along the route. Enjoy the peaceful walking but do keep an ear out for the occasional vehicle.
Towards the end of Glencorse Reservoir you will pass the entrance to Kirkton Farm. The farm sits beneath King’s Hill,so named because it was here on the Pentland Estate that King Robert the Bruce watched the hunt of a white deer. His knight Sir William St. Clair had gambled with King Robert on his two dogs ‘Help’ and ‘Hold’ being able to catch the deer before it crossed the burn (which you will still see today). The stakes were high – King Robert had gambled the Pentland Estate that they wouldn’t succeed whilst Sir William St. Clair had put his very life on the dogs catching the deer. Luckily for him, his dogs succeeded but only just, if the tales are to be believed! The story continues that Sir William was so grateful that he marked the spot by building a chapel – St Katherine’s in the Hope, the remains of which are now submerged beneath the waters of Glencorse Reservoir.
Loganlee Dam
Those on the short Pentland Pushchair walk should turn around here and begin the stroll back to the car park. Those up for a longer walk should continue up the lane.
Children will enjoy spotting the sheep and cattle that are frequently to be seen in the surrounding fields and older ones should keep their eyes peeled for the first sighting of the imposing dam wall crossing the Logan Burn, which will gradually come into view as the Pentland Hills roll down to meet the water as you approach Loganlee Reservoir.
View from the tea hut picnic spot, Loganlee Reservoir
The lane carries on past the dam along the side of Loganlee Reservoir. Meander onwards taking in the small fishing boats out on the water and the dramatic Pentland scenery. You will eventually reach a small tea hut, which although intended primarily for the fishermen, also sells snacks and refreshments to passing hikers. There is even a small picnic table opposite the hut by the waterside. From here you can turn back or if you still fancy a bit more wandering, continue to the end of Loganlee reservoir. If still up for exploring the Pentland Hills further or killing time waiting for Pentlands Peaks walkers to rejoin your group, then carry straight on past the farmhouse at the end of the lane and onto the rough track. You will need a good cross-country all terrain buggy though if going beyond this point. How far you continue is up to you – there is a small waterfall another 15-20 minutes walk from the end of the reservoir and you can always retrace your steps at any point.
When you have had enough fresh air for one day, retrace your path along the side of the two reservoirs, enjoying the different views as you walk with your back to the tallest of the Pentlands Hills and the glen widens before you.
Public facilities are accessible 24 hours at the car park and the Flotterstone Inn provides lunch from 12-4pm and a range of food options for dinner, priding itself on locally sourced Scottish meat including that from the Pentland Estate itself.
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