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West Moorfoot Hills

Routes on the hills north of Peebles

To the north of the Borders town of Peebles and to the south-east of Edinburgh, the Moorfoot hills contain many summits amongst the vast rolling landscapes. The flowing burns of Glentress Water, Leithen Water and Dewar Burn divide the landscape from north to south - the land to the west of this is detailed here on which its highest point is Blackhope Scar.

Main route summary

Map base ©OpenStreetMap

The finest sustained route in the western Moorfoots is a high-level circuit over varied terrain taking in the 3 summits over 600m in height - Blackhope Scar, Dundreich and Bowbeat Hill.

Fine tracks at lower levels give way to faint paths higher up where fence-lines aid navigation over heather clad expanses. The sound of windmills hum spookily in misty conditions !

Main peaks	Blackhope Scar (651m, 'Graham') Dundreich (623m, 'Donald') Bowbeat Hill (626m, 'Donald')

Ascent

625m (2,050ft)

Distance

21km (13m)

Time

walk : 6:45hr*, run : 2:45hr
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent

Start/finish

Mauldslie by Gladhouse Reservoir
(grid ref : NT310530)

Profile

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Maps

OS
Landranger 73

OS
Explorer 337

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GPX file of this route

Terrain

easy

difficult

Navigation

easy

testing

Effort

stroll

long day

Scenery

stunning

Route detail & map »

Getting there

Gladhouse Reservoir lies below the Moorfoots, a few kilometres east of the A703 between Penicuik and Peebles.
There is some parking at the eastern end of the loch, but if you continue to the road-end at Mauldslie, it is possible, with permission to park on the verge by the farm buildings.
The lower slopes are covered in grouse and pheasant shooting areas, so beware after the 12th August !

Blackhope Scar

From the dip in the road, just before the road-end at Mauldslie, go through a gate aiming south-east.
On a grassy trod, head through a stretch of wood, then south to pick up a track aside forestry.
Ahead on the hillside, a track can be seen climbing diagonally - there is a steep climb to reach this.
Once on it, follow it onto the crest , then over heather, pick up a fence on Mauldslie Hill.
On rough, tussocky, heather clad terrain, the fence is followed for 4km to Blackhope Scar.

Bowbeat Hill

Over more heather, head south, then south-west following the fence-line.
The fence drops to the edge of a forest and the edge of Eon's Bowbeat Windfarm.
Climb up on a faint path through heather to the nearest windmill, from where an excellent track continues past 4 more turbines - Bowbeat's summit is just north of the final one next to a turn in the fence-line.

Dundreich

Continue on the track westwards, then north to the most northerly windmill .
Leave the track, head on a faint path following a fence north-west.
As the ground dips (and where the fence turns west), leave the fence and head north-west over tussocky ground towards Dundreich's summit.
The ground becomes grass covered and easier underfoot at the top is neared. Good views all round from the trig point and cairn.

Return

A dyke and fence aim north-east from Dundreich's summit - follow this to the cairn on Jeffries Corse .
Keeping to the east-side of the fence, drop on a grassy path to Gladhouse Cottage - the ruins of Hirendean Castle are worth a visit .
A farm track is followed to the farm buildings and cottages at Moorfoot .
Look for the sign marked 'Huntly Cott', then follow the road, track and path through various gates and over cattle grids back to Mauldslie.
The route is well signed but know your access rights with regard to bikes and dogs !

400m (1,300ft)

Distance

8km (5m)

Time

walk : 2:30hr

Terrain

easy

difficult

Nav

easy

testing

Effort

stroll

long day

Scenery

stunning

This route takes in Dundreich with its fine views to the Pentlands and beyond. 4km south of the Leadburn junction on the A703, an unclassified road is marked to Temple and Gorebridge. 1km up this road a wooden sign marks the start of this route, by which there is limited roadside parking.
On foot, aim down the track to reach the dam on Portmore Loch. Ignore the track heading off left (east) and follow the track hugging the eastern shore of the loch. After around 500m a gate is reached - thru this gate to another one slightly further on at the edge of forestry.
Don't go thru this gate, turn left and on a faint grassy track, strike uphill following a wall on the edge of the forest (note the OS Landranger map incorrectly shows the edge of the forest aligning with the burn, the OS Explorer does however mark the edge correctly). At the top of the forest cross over a gate onto the western side of the wall and follow faint tracks through the tussocky grass to Dundreich's summit with a small cairn, trig point and expansive views.
Continue following the faint track sws along Dundreich's crest. The track splits, take the right fork and trace the track as it turns nw following the line of the hill. As the track begins to turn north aiming directly for Portmore Loch, leave it and continue nw, losing height on grassy ground. There are some minor crags (unmarked on OS Landranger, but marked on OS Explorer) to avoid on the way.
As the lower ground is gained, a track is crossed, then keeping the fence on your right hand side, aim up hill and to a gate in the wall ahead. Navigating in the forest ahead can be confusing, made the worse by the lack of the tracks not marked on the OS Landranger and Explorer maps ! Through the gate and on a rough track, keep right at the first split. 150m on and now into forestry, the track meets with another coming from the left - keep right.
Another 150m on, another track comes from the right - keep straight on. Approaching the remains of the ancient fort marked, another junction is met, keep right and straight on. 350m on, the track reaches a 3-way split, keep straight on.
500m on the track drops to join a more obvious track with a fainter track heading to a gate at the edge of the forest - turn right right at this point and the track will lead you to the dam on the loch, where confusion ends ! Return back to the road the way you came in.

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	East Moorfoot Hills More runnable terrain than the west Moorfoots, high-level grass covered circuits with excellent views.

	Northern Pentland Hills Many starting points and tracks everywhere make these hills so accessible and create endless route possibilities.

	Southern Pentland Hills More remote than the Northern Pentlands and with fainter paths and fewer tracks.

	Broughton Heights and Trahenna Grassy covered crests giving a delightful hiking or running circuit above Broughton

	Tweedsmuir and the Moffat Hills The three Corbetts to the east of the River Tweed source sit amongst quiet farmland and forestry

Webcams	Pentlands webcam From Eastside Cottages.

Forecasts	Scald Law on Mountain-Forecast Blackhope Scar on Met Office Scald Law on YR MWIS - Southeastern Highlands Scottish Midge Forecast XCWeather - UK Winds

West Moorfoot Hills

Routes on the hills north of Peebles

Main route summary

Route detail & map »

Getting there

Blackhope Scar

Bowbeat Hill

Dundreich

Return

Photos of route »

Alternative routes »

From Portmore Loch »

From Eddlestone »

Other hill routes nearby »

Forecasts & other useful info »

Contact

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