The Black Hill

 

A new year, but I am still trying to capture the Pentland Hills.  Today I am featuring the Black Hill.  Even covered in snow it manages to look dark and menacing, at least compared to its neighbours.  Reasons for it appearing black?  The view across the water (Threipmuir Reservoir) reveals the northern aspect of the hill, which in the winter is deprived of direct sunlight.  The hill is covered with heather, subject to controlled burning to increase the diversity of habitat, and light snowfall fall straight through the dark shrubbery.  Having walked along it I can confirm that what soil there is is dark and peaty. 

Can you spot which one is The Black Hill ?

Trees and vegetation can make for a dramatically different microclimate as demonstrated in this picture. Snow in the fields to either side, warm and dry along this path!

White Out

View from the window today:

It snowed on Christmas Day evening and the temperature has fluctuated around zero C since then so we still have that snow before this lot arrived this morning.

Just outside Edinburgh the Pentland Hills are transformed:

OK White Out /Wipe Out   - It's an easy mistake!

A Ridge Walk in the Pentlands

Having featured the snow capped Pentland Hills a few posts ago I set aside a day to do the ridge walk along six of its summits yesterday. The weather turned favourable so the trip was on

Atop Scald Law

The highest peak is Scald at 579 metres

West and East Kips

Carnethy Hill

It can be wild and desolate but in fact you are never far from civilization. Edinburgh and its suburbs loom on the horizon to the North and West and the A702 carries rushing traffic to the East.

Loganlea Reservoir

That's the sea on the horizon. The white house is idyllically situated.

Monks Rigg aproach to West Kip

West Kip the most photogenic Pentland Hill

A day later and not too many aches or pains. I really felt like I had recharged my batteries.

River Deep Mountain High

Keep Your Heron



A Walk in the Pentland Hills provides some interesting encounters:

 

This chap is a keen fisherman

There's no shortage of supply

from the reservoirs that feed Edinburgh

It is a nice playground to have outside your town.



Pentland View

The Sound of Moosic?

 

 

On the Pentland Hills above Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat, the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife in the background.