This is the third Multi-cache series we have laid out for keen hillwalkers / cachers who, like us, love the Pentland Hills and the multitude of walking options they have to offer.
We set the first MC series out – the Pentland Ridge Multi-Cache - in 2009, the second - Another Pentland Ridge Multi-cache - in 2010 and had much pleasure in seeing the positive and enthusiastic comments that came in from the series completers. We had hoped to place this third series in 2011; however that wasn’t possible – so here it is, early in 2012.
The first in the series involves a walk along the 6 tops of the southern ridge of the Pentlands and the second a part of the northern ridge, starting at Hillend. In contrast to the first two MC series, this is a much shorter walk (around 2 hours long) on a part of the Pentlands south of West Kip that is much less visited than the popular northern tops. However these are still very accessible tops through only a short drive south from Edinburgh. It is an easy half day walk on a horse-shoe circuit; ideal during the short days of winter, or when you need a blast of fresh Pentland air but don’t want to or can’t spend the best part of the day out on the hills.
The series was set on a very bracing January day with a very keen north-westerly blowing. The posted co-ordinates are for parking at Nine-Mile Burn– there is plenty of space. As with the sister caches, in order to find the final (5th) cache, all you have to do is find these 4 caches: 1) Cap Law 2) Green Law 3) Spittal Hill 4) Spittal-Patie’s Col Once you have found a cache, sign the book and look on the underside of the box. There you will see a letter and the number that the letter equals. You will need to record these so take a pen/pencil and notebook or something with you.
The final cache can be found at: N 55° (C+D)(A+B).(D)(A+D)(A-C)' W 003° (B)(C-B-D).(B)(A-B-C-D)(B+C+D-A).
As with the other ridge caches, take plenty of warm and windproof clothing (even in summer). The walk should take between 2 and 3 hours, so you may want to take lunch with you. There is a nice picnic spot with some shelter from the wind at Cap Law – the first cache site. There are good paths all the way.
The Walk: Starting at Nine-Mile Burn (just off the A702), take the path marked “ Balerno by Monks Rigg and Braid Law” – along the edge of a field. This turns up the hill and to another sign that points north-west for Monks Rig (don’t follow the path to Braid Law). There is then a gentle ascent along the edge of another field and then into another field and after a couple of stiles you are soon onto open hillside. There is then a pleasant ascent up the Monks Rig ridge until after some 30-45 minutes of climbing you reach the top of Cap Law. The first cache site – Cap Law – is a short way down the other side nestled in an old larch wood with great views to West and East Kip and Scald Law. You then need to head due north a bit further, then west and round the head of the glen (great views down the Monks Burn glen), then across a slightly boggy area and up to Green Law for the second cache. The route is fairly clear now; a drop down to the col then up to Spittal Hill, the highest point of the walk (526m) and the third cache. Then it’s a short drop to the col between Spittal and Patie’s Hill for the 4th cache.
You should have been collecting the numbers on the bottom of each cache container and the final (fifth) cache can be found at:- N 55° (C+D)(A+B).(D)(A+D)(A-C)' W 003° (B)(C-B-D).(B)(A-B-C-D)(B+C+D-A).
Inside of this fifth cache (as with our other Pentland Ridge Multi-Cache’s) are the co-ordinates of a bonus cache (GC3ATWR), which can be found in a different part of the Pentlands – so don’t forget to check this out. Good Luck and enjoy the Walk!!