Carnethy Hill

Nearest town:
Penicuik (3km E)
OS reference:
NT20386191
OS sheet:
66
Latitude:
55° 50' 37.39 N
Longitude:
3° 16' 17.96 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by thelonious

28/01/2017 – Cairn on South Black Hill (I think it should have its own site on here?)

thelonious
thelonious Jan 30, 2017
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Toward Carnethy Hill from the massive South Black Hill cairn...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 23, 2015
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Toward Scald Law (centre right, ascended by the track). South Black Hill (to its left) bears another very substantial cairn, curiously not cited by the RCAHMS as ancient in origin.... In my opinion it looks the real deal.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 23, 2015
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

South Black Hill cairn... it is a significant achievement irrespective of period. Wouldn’t it be great if it did indeed complement Carnethy Hill?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 8, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

South Black Hill cairn.... must admit it looks the part to me.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 8, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

(Finally) remembered I promised to post additional images of the massive cairn upon South Black Hill... so here they are. The cairn is not cited by Canmore as being of prehistoric origin; however I would encourage anyone who may fancy a nice ‘horseshoe’ route across these hills to come and see what they think for themselves. Needless to say any reference / documentary evidence proving that the cairn is modern would of course be most welcome too.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 8, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Carnethy Hill from the massive cairn upon South Black Hill.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 23, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The very substantial cairn gracing South Black Hill... apparently not considered of ancient origin. Needless to say, I’d like to see the evidence for this.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 23, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Retrospective looking back from Scauld Law.... a big cairn, this. Great hillwalk, too. Thanks for the tip thelonious.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 23, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking toward Castlelaw and Edinburgh.......

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 23, 2012
Image of Carnethy Hill (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Although seriously trashed, being in a very popular spot – tell me about it – this remains a very substantial cairn.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 23, 2012

Articles

Carnethy Hill

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 23, 2012

Rising from an rather chilly ‘overnighter’ beneath Tinto I’m pleased to note that enduring a little discomfort would appear to have presented me with the prospect of a fine day ahead. Yeah... nothing good in this life comes without a price... and I reckon the reward is currently worth the (it has to be said) not insubstantial outlay. Not sure my back totally agrees, but thankfully it is reasonably acquiescent. For now. So, onward to Edinburgh. Or at least The Pentland Hills, which overlook Alba’s capital.

It would seem – in retrospect, as usual – that most (and there would seem to be quite a few) visitors to this comfortably ‘compact’ range of hills ascend from the Loganlea Reservoir to the north. Needless to say I, the inevitable consequence of blind ignorance as opposed to any integral ‘maverick tendencies’, approach from the south. To be fair, however, it is not a poor choice. Parking in a large layby upon the A702 beyond Siverburn, I follow a marked path crossing very wet ground – the excess water no doubt having overwhelmed the Grain Burn – before veering right at a ‘crossroads’ to ascend the right hand shoulder of Carnethy Hill. Despite the highest point not quite reaching 2,000ft it is by no means an easy climb – well, in my opinion – and I’m consequently more than happy to reach the summit, the ‘cherry on top’ (so to speak) a very substantial cairn. Yeah, suffice to say a structure of this magnitude was not erected by student punters on a day trip from Edinburgh! Seeing as most of them (the males, anyway) look as athletic as Jarvis Cocker. No offence, Jarvis....

I settle down upon the great stone pile and reckon there are few places I’d rather be this day. Sure, the great cairn has been defaced by the inevitable ‘storm shelters’.... if that is indeed what they are ..... but it has enough sheer bulk to overcome this with ease. Indeed the view westwards towards Scauld Law is impressive, an apparent cairn upon South Black Hill (to its left) intriguing.... as it transpires, overwhelmingly so. I stay for several hours, enjoying the company of female students – and the excellent views – more than that of route marching muppets. But there you are.

Anyway, as mentioned, Scauld Law beckons, the eroded path testimony to the popularity of these hills. No corresponding monument crowns this top. However, venture along the peak’s southern spur to South Black Hill and this sad state of affairs is subsequently rectified. Yeah, crowning a classic Bronze Age position sits another very substantial cairn, curiously not cited by the OS (or Canmore, for that matter) as being of ancient origin. Strange. Hey, if there is documented evidence to this end, fair enough. But I have to say I was inclined to adopt a contrary view, all things considered. Great views, a great place to hang out for a while.

I descend to Silverburn Quarry (neglecting to visit a hillfort just excluded from my map extract – doh!) and so complete the ‘loop’ and return to the A702. My legs are comprised of the proverbial ‘jelly’, rendering a visit to Castlelaw a ‘no-go’. Instead I decide to head across the Firth of Forth, a visit to the obscure Denoon Law having stuck in the brain. Yeah, why not?

Carnethy Hill

thelonious
thelonious Mar 7, 2012

19/03/2011 – Parked the car at Ranger Centre (NT 23426311). Good path leads west up steep hill then SW to cairn on summit of Carnethy Hill. This is a big cairn with a great view. We continued on to Scald Law, the two Kips and looped back over Black Hill to car. Great day out with lovely weather for this time of year.

Sites within 20km of Carnethy Hill

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