Cauldstane Slap Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh
Headed up there late this afternoon, very boggy but a nice walk up to some little peaks. Was wanting to place a geocache on the old fort but to easily muggled. Spotted many grouse and two kestrels looking for filed mouse/voles on the hillside. Very remote looking across to West Linton. It's an old drove road, historical details below.
..........The old drove road from West Linton heads up the tarmaced public road to Baddinsgill, beyond which a stony track climbs north, gradually becoming grassier to the breach in the Pentlands at the Cauldstane Slap. From here a narrow, unsurfaced path leads on northwards.
Not for nothing was the Slap known as “The Thieves Road”. Border Reivers, Moss Troopers and robbers galloped through the pass on night raids. Wrapped in their plaids, the drovers slept beside their herds and flocks, determined to defend them with dirk and staff. But cattle and sheep were often driven off and blood shed.
Cairns Castle, the ruins of which can still be seen near West Cairn Hill at the eastern end of Harperrig Reservoir, was the stronghold of the Warden of the Slap who endeavoured to protect those using the pass............
Headed up there late this afternoon, very boggy but a nice walk up to some little peaks. Was wanting to place a geocache on the old fort but to easily muggled. Spotted many grouse and two kestrels looking for filed mouse/voles on the hillside. Very remote looking across to West Linton. It's an old drove road, historical details below.
..........The old drove road from West Linton heads up the tarmaced public road to Baddinsgill, beyond which a stony track climbs north, gradually becoming grassier to the breach in the Pentlands at the Cauldstane Slap. From here a narrow, unsurfaced path leads on northwards.
Not for nothing was the Slap known as “The Thieves Road”. Border Reivers, Moss Troopers and robbers galloped through the pass on night raids. Wrapped in their plaids, the drovers slept beside their herds and flocks, determined to defend them with dirk and staff. But cattle and sheep were often driven off and blood shed.
Cairns Castle, the ruins of which can still be seen near West Cairn Hill at the eastern end of Harperrig Reservoir, was the stronghold of the Warden of the Slap who endeavoured to protect those using the pass............
