Time – 4-5 hours
Distance – 15km/9miles

A fine walk along the ridge of the Pentlands between Baddinsgill and the North Esk reservoir, with spectacular views in all directions, taking in the Lothians, the Forth Bridge and Fife. The summit of Mount Maw is at 535m. The route is easy to follow but with sections where there is no obvious path. Steep ascents/descents and some boggy ground to negotiate.

Route: Start/Finish – West Linton

Leave the village by walking up the Loan, the unmade road leading uphill opposite the Gordon Arms and right of the Manor Garage. Continue past all the houses and on into open countryside, with good views of Mendick Hill.

To your left you will notice extensive new planting in the adjacent field. This is ‘Roamer’s Wood’, a community project to provide mixed native woodland and space for community activities. As the project develops, the Wood will provide a pleasant detour from the main path. After 1.5 km turn right at the junction [1] (signposted ‘Carlops/Baddinsgill via Stoneypath’) and continue for 500m along this section of the old Roman Road, then turn left (signposted ‘Little Vantage via Baddinsgill’), following the track through Stoneypath Farm [2].

Once past the farm, the track runs steadily upwards. 1.5km from the farm, near where the track reaches its highest point, you come to a gate and a dry-stane dyke. Go through the gate then turn right uphill along the line of the wall [3]. You will keep the wall to your right now for 2km all the way up to the summit of Mount Maw. On the way up, the views are superb, particularly those of Baddinsgill reservoir below you.

Pass the trig post at the summit and continue along the ridge for 2.5km, now with a wire fence on your right, past Lamb Rig [4] and over the top of Grain Heads at 532m, with views of the Forth Bridge on a good day. The path passes a little to the west of the top of the Mount before dropping steeply into Deer Hope in the gap between the Mount and Wether Law [5].

Before reaching the lowest point, which is very boggy, cross the fence and cut across to your right and down through the heather into Deer Hope. Head east, using gates to cross any fences you encounter, winding your way down the gully for 1.5km until you see North Esk reservoir ahead.

Emerging from Deer Hope, continue straight ahead towards the water’s edge, passing woods to your left. Cross the stile at the end of the wood and bear left and downhill to another stile [6]. Turn right here, signposted ‘Ninemileburn’ and walk alongside the reservoir to the keeper’s cottage, where you bear right, signposted ‘Carlops’, through a gate onto a track. Follow this track all the way back to Carlops, about 2.5km.

At Carlops [7], turn right and head southwards along the A702. After 100m, turn right along the track to Windy Gowl Farm [8] (signposted ‘West Linton’), following this for 5km to come back to the turning for Stoneypath Farm and then the Loan back down to West Linton