Bonaly Reservoir, Phantom's Cleugh, Glencorse Reservoir, Fala Knowe and Capelaw Hill Loop

This medium-grade loop in the Pentland Hills packs a lot into roughly 11 km / 6.8 miles, with about 400 m / 1,312 ft of ascent, so it feels more substantial than the distance suggests. The route links two very different reservoirs, crosses open hill ground around Fala Knowe and Capelaw Hill, and uses the cleugh between the hills to create a varied circuit of woodland edge, moorland, rough hill paths and broad reservoir-side tracks. Expect a mix of firm estate paths, stonier hill sections, wetter ground after rain, and some steeper climbing where the route gains the higher slopes. The nearest well-known start point is Bonaly Country Park car park, Bonaly Road, Edinburgh EH13 0PB, on the south-west edge of the city. (pentlandhills.org)

The opening section is usually the gentlest, easing away from Bonaly and drawing you toward Bonaly Reservoir, a small upland reservoir tucked on the north-west side of Capelaw Hill at around 350 m above sea level. This part of the walk gives an immediate sense of the Pentlands’ character: the city is close, but the landscape quickly turns pastoral and upland. Bonaly Reservoir is one of the smaller waters in the range, sitting in a shelf below the hill, and it often feels more enclosed and intimate than the larger reservoirs elsewhere in the park. (trove.scot)

From there, the route typically begins to climb more decisively toward Phantom’s Cleugh, the narrow pass-like hollow that provides a natural link between the Bonaly side and the Glencorse side of the hills. This is one of the more atmospheric stretches of the loop. The path threads between rising slopes, with Capelaw Hill on one side and neighbouring ground around Harbour Hill on the other, and the terrain can feel noticeably wilder than the lower approach. In wet or windy weather, this section can also feel more exposed than the map first suggests, so it is worth checking the route carefully in HiiKER before setting out. (geograph.org.uk)

Climbing to the higher ground

The main effort of the day comes as the route works up onto the broader hill ground around Fala Knowe and Capelaw Hill. With a total ascent of around 400 m / 1,312 ft over 11 km / 6.8 miles, this is very much a moderate hillwalk rather than a flat reservoir stroll. The gradients are not alpine, but they are enough to raise the heart rate, especially if the ground is soft or the wind is strong. Capelaw Hill reaches about 454 m / 1,490 ft, while Fala Knowe sits just below that level, and the reward is a wide outlook over the northern Pentlands, the reservoirs below, and, on clear days, across Edinburgh and beyond. (de.wikipedia.org)

The higher sections are where hikers should be most prepared for changing conditions. Even on a relatively short route, mist can reduce visibility on the open slopes, and the moorland paths can become indistinct in places. Good footwear is important because peatier patches and waterlogged ground are common after rain. Wind exposure is another factor: the loop is not especially high by Scottish standards, but the Pentlands are open enough for weather to be felt strongly. (pentlandhills.org)

Reservoirs, wildlife and landscape character

The descent and middle-to-late stages around Glencorse Reservoir bring a different feel again. Glencorse is larger and more open than Bonaly, and the water has a long practical history tied to both local industry and Edinburgh’s water supply. It was built to compensate mills at Glencorse, Milton Bridge and Auchendinny and to help supply drinking water to Edinburgh through an early cast-iron pipeline system. That gives this walk an added historical layer: these are not just scenic waters, but part of the infrastructure that supported the growth of the city and surrounding settlements. (en.wikipedia.org)

The Pentland Hills as a whole are a living, working landscape of public access land, farms and sporting estates, and that is worth bearing in mind throughout the route. Around the reservoirs and open hill you may see waterfowl, raptors, meadow pipits and other upland birds, while the rougher grass