Allermuir Hill and Caerketton Hill (Pentlands) from Hillend

This ridge walk climbs Caerketton Hill (478 m) and Allermuir Hill (493 m) in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, on the southern edge of Edinburgh, Scotland. The route is about 7 km and takes three to 3.5 hours, with roughly 400 m of climbing. It starts at Hillend Country Park on Biggar Road (EH10 7DU), beside the Midlothian Snowsports Centre. Lothian Buses run to Hillend from the city centre in about 40 minutes, and there is a pay-and-display car park on site. No permit is needed. From the car park, a steep path climbs beside the snowsports slope onto Caerketton, then the route follows the ridge to Allermuir and returns by a lower path, or retraces the ridge. Surfaces are grassy hill paths, rocky sections and boggy patches, so boots are advised. The hills are open and unsheltered, with no shade, and the wind is noticeably stronger than in the city. Views from the tops stretch over Edinburgh to the Firth of Forth, Fife and the Lammermuir Hills. The summit of Allermuir is the usual turn-around point, though walkers can stop at Caerketton for a shorter day. There are no huts, shelters or water points, so water and extra layers must be carried. Mobile signal is patchy on the ridge, so an offline map such as OS Explorer 350 is essential. Sheep graze the hills, so dogs must be on a lead, especially during lambing season from March to June. In winter, darkness arrives by about 4 pm in December, and daylight should be planned carefully. Ranger information is available from pentlandhills.org. The walk is a good first step into the Pentlands for fit walkers who want hill views without leaving the city's bus network.