Scald Law East & West Kip

A pleasant day for another walk in the Pentlands and I'm excited to include a couple of hills, East and West Kip, that are new to me. I have been up Scald Law before but I include it again today to make it a better ridge walk and give me a better workout.
The guides normally bring you up from the Penicuik side but I will be coming from Currie and returning via Balerno to make my circular walk.

Green Cleugh

I take my normal route via Harlaw reservoir heading towards Black Springs and then following the track around Black Hill. Views are excellent including the flat top of West Kip, peeking through the gap. The descent takes you back down into an old drover's pass, Green Cleugh, which is stunning today. I catch a buzzard flying the ridge to my right but more interesting is the very fast raptor flying low just below the ridgeline to my left, trying to flush birds from the heather and scrub. Big, fast with quite pointed wings this looks like a possible Harrier to me but not certain. It swiftly goes back and forth repeating its glide four times before swiftly heading for some trees on Scald Law.

Summit Scald Law, Carnethy behind

A short steep climb up to the ridge which splits Scald Law and Carnethy Hill. I have not climbed a hill since Goatfell as the weather has been so poor but still surprised that breathing is laboured. Up the zig zag hill to Scald Law, the Pentlands highest hill at 579 metres, topping its neighbour Carnethy by a whopping 3 metres. 2nd wind breathing now sorted out.

East & West Kip

There is a trig point here to stop and take in the views and get a good look to the west at today's principal objective the 2 Kips. The spans of the new Forth road bridge can be clearly seen. Just as expected for this year the cold northerly wind is blowing strongly and glad I was not wearing shorts.

Scald Law from East Kip

The entire Pentland ridge is a roller coaster walk so down I wander and climb up the slopes of East Kip. Being so close to Edinburgh these hills are well walked so there is a well worn trail. The views are good and a raven keeps me company, maybe hoping I will throw it some food but none to hand. 

Grouse moor

The wind seems to be even stronger so a brief look around at the nice farmland and moor scenes. The patchwork quilt of Hare hill across the way indicates a grouse moor that has been scorched to create new heather growth. I look back and see a hill runner on top of Scald Law running the track to South Black Hill. Once maybe but too old for that now.

East Kip & Scald Law from West Kip

Up and down and reach the top of West Kip. It is described as the narrowest top on this ridge but it is fine. Looking back I see a runner coming down the flanks of Scald Law, looks like a different person.
I descend and take the trail heading back to Balerno. At first this is a wide expanse of open moorland. Ravens and crows are walking the heather and scrub looking for nests to raid. A call of a raptor and a merlin flies low clearly carrying a bird in its talons. The runner does not pass me so I presume there was a return run back along the ridge.

Carnethy, Scald Law, East & West Kip

Looking back there are excellent views of the hills I have just tramped. To my left I can see people on the ridge of East Cairn Hill, be doing that soon.
As you get close to Balerno you can head back towards Harlaw reservoir but I elect to go to Balerno and walk back to Currie alongside the Water of Leith.
Checked the GPS and exactly 12 miles walked with 1550 feet of elevation so a reasonable workout. Sadly driving home tonight so no beer to look forward to, sad.