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Outdoor adventures – part 1
Welcome to the Pentland Hills. This Regional Park has a stunning range of medium-sized hills stretching from the Edinburgh bypass to Carlops. Three local authorities cover the park which is a mixture of public land (such as Hillend, Bonaly and Harlaw) and private land used for farming and sports filming. Reservoirs dot the landscape and provide homes for many birds and mammals.
The Pentland Regional Park is a playground for outdoor adventure. There are five main walking routes. The one we’re on is the Allermuir Upland and the Harlow Reservoir, well you could just say the Harlow Reservoir. We’ll go there next time and then on to the North Esk Reservoir.
Then West Kip, East Kip and Scald Law or what they call the route for “those who really stretch their legs”, Turnhouse and the Carnethy Hills, which they name “for a stunning sunset”.
Hello dear readers,
Today we are going to tell you about a wonderful place in Scotland or rather, one in Edinburgh. It is the Pentland Hills or the Pentland Regional Park. It is a park with hills, nine peaks, is over 450 metres high and has views of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.
Climbing Allermuir Hill
Allermuir Hill was the first hill we decided to climb. But, of course, inexperienced we took the wrong route. It’s better to go through Hillend, past the Snowsports Centre. It’s a skiing place and a training station.
And we went through Swanston and through the Swanston Golf Club. Swanston is a small pretty village which, as of 2001, only has 75 people.
Well, here we go to the start of the climb. I think it will take at least an hour to climb.
Well, here we go to the start of the climb. I think it will take at least an hour to climb.
The Pentland Regional Park is, generally speaking, a playground for outdoor adventure. There are five main walking routes. This is the one we’re on, the Allermuir Hill, then there is the Harlow Reservoir, well you could just say the Harlow Reservoir. That’s where we’ll go next time, then on to the North Esk Reservoir, West Kip, East Kip and Scald Law or, as they call it, “he who really stretches his legs” as well as Turnhouse Hill and Carnethy Hill “for a spectacular sunset”.
Well, we won’t see the sunset today, but we’ll climb the mountain in the daytime. It’s beautiful here in the daytime of course and it’s beautiful anyway.
This hill is also called “one for the views of Edinburgh – 6 kilometres”. What exactly 6 kilometres means is not quite clear, but … the view is really very beautiful. Panoramic view, well, not six kilometres, but actually the whole of Edinburgh, its northern part and the main part of Pentland Park.
Well, we’ve climbed to the top.
Highland cattle
Here are grazing cattle, more specifically Highland cattle which is a Scottish breed of cow. They are peaceful animals, but they can be aggressive at times.
Like right now, for example…
This breed, by the way, was bred in Scotland in the North Scottish Highlands. They are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged Scottish nature of their native Scottish Highlands. The coat consists of two layers – long coarse outer hair and a soft inner undercoat, which eliminates the need for a thick layer of subcutaneous fat to provide insulation. In addition, the animals’ thick, warm coat means that expensive barns and pasture shelters are not necessary.
This breed is also shown in zoos next to other exotic animals. For example, in Yalta, Kiev, Kharkov zoos, Woodland Park Zoo, High Park Zoo and Dakota Zoo. The Queen of Great Britain has her own herd of Highland breed with about 100 heads on pastures in Balmoral Castle.
Well, our ascent has come to an end and we have to go down. In fact, the whole route has taken over four hours. We will go down just past the Snow Sports Centre.
I think, as I said, we will be making another trip very soon to places for outdoor adventures. I also hope that the cows in these new places (if there are any) will not fight.
