Carnethy Hill & Turnhouse Hill....is this really meant to be summer?

I know it is a recurring theme of this years blog but it cannot be denied that the one consistent factor of outdoor life in Scotland this year has been the wet and windy climate, summer and blue sky almost non existent this year.

The walk starts here the objective in the distance

Today I originally planned to do both of these hills in a circuit from Flotterstone but this mornings forecast indicated rain and high/gusty winds. I am happy to put in the work to slog up a hill but if I do I want to get a view from the top, not unreasonable I think. So the first rule of planning be prepared to change. I am still going to get out and walk but if I cannot see the tops then a low circular route instead. Also if I go up I want the wind at my back so the decision was to start from Currie instead.

Black Springs

I have described the start of this Pentlands walk in a previous blog (Scald Law) so I will omit most of the intro. From the Harlaw carpark I headed towards the Black springs which sit at the base of the Black Hill. These springs have the second biggest reed bed in the Lothian's so worth a look at in themselves even if just for a short walk.

Rounding Black Hill still looks grey ahead

I skirted around the Black Hill and the expected rain arrived just after the start of the hill but still earlier than expected, maybe the rain will finish earlier too? So it was time to get on with the rain trousers. After about 45 minutes I get to the base of the hills at the Penicuik hill path. Soaking wet on the outside but waterproofs doing their job, rain easing and I can see the tops so decision made, up I go. It's still the same route as Scald Law but when you meet the ridge turn left to Carnethy hill which at 576 metres is the 2nd highest hill in the Pentlands a whopping 3 metres lower than Scald Law. At the junction I meet the first other walker of the day and we have a brief chat about madness and other things. The path is obvious but more boggy than previous visits. 
A short sharp ascent and I reached the summit of Carnethy hill and I did have a view of the surrounding countryside, dry weather, at least for a minute or two. When I looked back to the west I could see the next rain front coming towards me fast, so the waterproofs stayed on.

Scald Law from Carnethy

To be fair I did get a good view in all directions from the summit before beginning the short descent and then the climb back up to Turnhouse hill which sits at 470 metres. It seems higher than that, more so as the wind has decided to up the ante and for 10 minutes it was in the very strong, very gusty rating. The top was no place to hang about for my sandwich so I headed down the path and found a sheltered area to sit and enjoy the views eastward. I past a few people heading up, glad I was coming down. Good views of Glencorse reservoir as I descended and also as I descended I spotted some flowers attached to the fence, a bit away from the path, probably obscured if you ascend. Always interesting to see these but what is the story, a favourite view of a deceased person, an accident? 

Rainy views

As I approached the bottom there were some very fresh cow-pats on the path. Having had a previous bad experience of cattle I am now very wary of these not always docile beasts. The path goes through head high ferns with no obvious escape route and more worryingly no obvious coos, where were they? I progressed slowly not sure where the path was going and then I spot some of them in the vegetation but far enough away. Only when I get to the bottom and walk past them, fence now between us, I realised it was a substantial herd twenty plus and youngsters, heart can beat easier.

Turnhouse hill from Carnethy

Decision time, is it to be the bus or walk back. I was going to be lazy but saw a bus motor past the end of the road at Flotterstone. I checked at the bus stop and the next one was not for another hour so it would be about a 2 hour trip and I did not fancy an hour hanging about.
So retreading my route for a bit I walked back up the path, going past Glencorse reservoir, no trout boats out on the water and the hut looks closed, wonder why, not nice up on the tops but not weather to stop fishing. I follow the Balerno hill path cutting between Harbour and Bell's hills but I cut down the track to Currie and walk back, another 2 hours added so definitely pint time. 

Turnhouse Hill

All in all a 5 hour walk in not the best of weather but I have to be honest and say that I did enjoy it. I will do it again in better weather and take in the views, maybe.