West Cairn Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Cairn Hill |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 562 m (1,844 ft) |
| Prominence | 132 m (433 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Scottish Borders and West Lothian, Scotland |
| Parent range | Pentland Hills |
West Cairn Hill is a hill in the Pentland Hills in Scotland. It stands 562 meters (about 1,844 feet) tall. This makes it one of the highest hills in the Pentland Hills range. It is located on the western side of this long chain of hills, which stretches for about 20 miles (32 kilometers).
The hill sits right on the border between two areas of Scotland: the Scottish Borders and West Lothian. The closest small village is Carlops, which is about six kilometers (four miles) to the southeast. West Calder is nine kilometers (5.6 miles) to the northwest, and Penicuik is eleven kilometers (6.8 miles) to the east. A famous old path called the Cauldstane Slap runs through the dip between West Cairn Hill and its neighbor, East Cairn Hill.
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What's Around West Cairn Hill?
West Cairn Hill is surrounded by other interesting places. These include Colzium Hill and Torweaving Hill to the southwest. East Cairn Hill is to the northeast, and Wether Law is to the east.
The Old Pass: Cauldstane Slap
The Cauldstane Slap is a special path that goes between East and West Cairn Hill. It used to be a very important route for people traveling between West Lothian and the Scottish Borders. At its highest point, this pass reaches 441 meters (about 1,447 feet) above sea level.
The Stone Pile on Top
On the very top of West Cairn Hill, there is an ancient stone pile called a cairn. This cairn has been disturbed over time, but it is still quite large. It measures about 13.7 meters (45 feet) across and is about 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) high. You can also see old border walls that run right through this cairn.
The Harperrig Reservoir
On the northwest side of the hill, you'll find the Harperrig Reservoir. This reservoir was built a long time ago, in 1860. It collects water from the Water of Leith river. The reservoir helps supply drinking water to the city of Edinburgh. It also helps control the flow of the Water of Leith, making sure the river doesn't flood or run too low.
