Pentland Hills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills seen from Caerketton Hill
Highest point
Peak	Scald Law
Elevation	579 m (1,900 ft)
Prominence	312
Dimensions
Length	32 km (20 mi)
Geography
Pentland Hills Location in Scotland
Country	United Kingdom
State/Province	Scotland

The Pentland Hills are a beautiful range of hills located southwest of Edinburgh, Scotland. They stretch for about 20 miles (32 km) and run from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale area. These hills are a popular spot for outdoor adventures and offer amazing views!

What's in a Name?

The name "Pentland" was first used for a farm around the year 1050. It probably comes from an old language called Brythonic, where "pen llan" meant "head" or "top end of the church or enclosure." Over time, the name became linked to the hills themselves. It has nothing to do with the Pentland Firth in northern Scotland.

In the 1590s, a mapmaker named Timothy Pont drew maps of this area. His work later appeared in maps by Dutch cartographers like Hondius and Joan Blaeu. Blaeu's map from 1654 even showed the name in two ways: "Pentland Hill" and "Penth-landt hill," showing it was a name for the wider hill range.

How the Hills Were Formed

The Pentland Hills are made up of different kinds of rocks. The southern and western parts are mostly sandstone and conglomerates. These rocks formed from sand and pebbles that were pressed together over millions of years.

Volcanic Rocks

You can also find igneous rocks in the hills, like basalt and andesite. These rocks were formed from ancient volcanoes that erupted here a very long time ago. Some hills, like East and West Kip, are made from these volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks are harder, which is why they often form steeper and rockier hillsides.

Glacial History

Much of the lower areas of the hills are covered by till. This is a mix of clay, sand, and rocks left behind by glaciers during the last ice age. You can still see signs of where glacial meltwater channels carved out paths, like in Green Cleugh.

Top Peaks of the Pentlands

Here are some of the highest and most well-known peaks in the Pentland Hills:

• Scald Law (579 m or 1,900 ft)
• Carnethy Hill (573 m or 1,880 ft)
• East Cairn Hill (567 m or 1,860 ft)
• South Black Hill (563 m or 1,847 ft)
• West Cairn Hill (562 m or 1,844 ft)
• West Kip (551 m or 1,808 ft)
• Byrehope Mount (536 m or 1,759 ft)
• Mount Maw (535 m or 1,755 ft)
• East Kip (534 m or 1,752 ft)
• Turnhouse Hill (506 m or 1,660 ft)
• Black Hill (501 m or 1,644 ft)
• Allermuir Hill (493 m or 1,617 ft)
• Castlelaw Hill (488 m or 1,601 ft)
• Caerketton Hill (478 m or 1,568 ft)

The hills stretch across several local areas. These include the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian, the Scottish Borders, and South Lanarkshire.

Fun Things to Do in the Hills

The Pentland Hills are a fantastic place for outdoor activities! In 1986, the Pentland Hills Regional Park was created. It covers about 90 square kilometers (35 sq mi) at the northern end of the hills.

People visit the park and the rest of the hills for many reasons:

• Hillwalking: Exploring the many paths and trails.
• Mountain biking: Riding bikes on special routes.
• Horse riding: Enjoying the scenery on horseback.
• Golf: Playing at nearby golf courses.
• Skiing: There's even an artificial ski slope at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre.

Most of the land is used for grazing animals like sheep. There are also some areas with planted forests. The Ministry of Defence has a rifle range at Castlelaw. Several rivers start in the hills, including the Water of Leith and the North Esk. You'll also find several reservoirs (lakes that store water), such as Threipmuir, Harlaw, and Glencorse.

In the southern part of the hills, you can find Little Sparta. This is a unique garden created by the famous artist and poet Ian Hamilton Finlay.

Many towns and villages are located in or near the Pentland Hills:

• Edinburgh suburbs: Balerno, Juniper Green, Colinton, Currie, Oxgangs, Fairmilehead, Swanston
• Midlothian: Glencorse, Hillend, Nine Mile Burn, Eight Mile Burn, Penicuik, Silverburn
• West Lothian: Kirknewton. Livingston is also close by.
• Scottish Borders: Carlops, West Linton
• South Lanarkshire: Biggar, Auchengray, Carnwath, Dolphinton, Dunsyre, Garvald, Tarbrax

A Look Back in Time

Ancient Settlements

There is a lot of proof that people lived in the Pentland Hills a very long time ago. For example, you can find old hillforts and underground tunnels (called souterrains) at Castle Law and Caerketton. It's thought that Celtic people, known as the Votadini, lived, farmed, and defended these hills during the Roman era.

The Chapel of St Katherine's

Deep within Glencorse Reservoir, you can find the underwater ruins of a chapel called St Katherine's in the Hope. A medieval story says that King Robert the Bruce made a deal with Sir William St Clair. The king would give Sir William the Pentland Estate if he could hunt a white deer with his two hounds, Help and Hold. The dogs succeeded, and Sir William built the chapel to thank them and mark the spot.

The Pentland Rising

In 1666, after King Charles II returned to the throne, there was a small rebellion among a group called the Covenanters. A small force of these Covenanters, who were not well-armed, were defeated at the battle of Rullion Green. This event was later (and incorrectly) called the Pentland Rising. Today, a stone pile called the "Covenanter's Grave" marks the spot and gives its name to one of the old paths across the hills.

The Covenanter's Grave

In Books and Stories

The Pentland Hills have appeared in some famous books! In the novel Greyfriars Bobby, the famous dog Bobby comes from (and later visits) the Pentland Hills. Also, in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, Frankenstein's friend Henri Clerval felt "cheerfulness and admiration" when he visited the Pentland Hills on his journey north.

Pentland Hills Far Away

Did you know there's a place named after the Pentland Hills outside of Scotland? At the University of California, Riverside in the United States, there is a residence hall (a dorm for students) called Pentland Hills Residence Hall. It houses first-year students in a suite-style living arrangement.

Gallery

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  View from the slopes of Allermuir Hill

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  The Pentland Hills seen from Allermuir Hill

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  Pentland Hills looking west from the A702

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  Pentland Hills looking south west from the A702

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  Southern part of the range seen from Turnhouse Hill