Pentland Hills Regional Park

About Pentland Hills Regional Park

	NA NA, Lothians NA
	01315292401
	Pentland Hills Regional Park Website

Listed Under Attractions - Gardens and Parks

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a living, working landscape, that offers great opportunities to experience, learn about and enjoy the outdoors. Sculpted by glaciers and water, then shaped by people over thousands of years, the Pentland Hills are a special place for everyone. With around 10,000 hectares of countryside and over 100 km of waymarked paths, the Regional Park is a great place for walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing and orienteering. The Regional Park offers both gentle and challenging routes, taking you to summits, through cleughs and glens as well as around reservoirs. Vistas from the higher tops give a panoramic view across the Firth of Forth, the Borders and to Ben Lomond. The Park has two visitor centres, Harlaw House Visitor Centre and Flotterstone Information Centre that provide information, advice and displays on what to do and see in the Regional Park. Located adjacent to Harlaw House Visitor Centre is Harlaw Wildlife Garden, a lovely sun trap ideal for picnics. It holds a Green Flag in recognition of it being a quality greenspace.
History and heritage

The Pentland Hills Regional Park was designated in 1986. Majority of the land is in private ownership, with the City of Edinburgh Council, Midlothian Council and West Lothian Council all having statutory duties to their constituent parts of the Park. The City of Edinburgh Council is the leading authority of the Regional Park, with the City of Edinburgh Council Natural Heritage Service providing the Park services.

The Regional Park has four aims that the three local authorities agreed to adhere to: 1.To retain the essential character of the hills as a place for the peaceful enjoyment of the countryside; 2. Caring for the hills so that the landscape and the habitat is protected and enhanced; 3. Within this caring framework to encourage responsible public enjoyment of the hills; 4. co-ordination of these aims so that they co-exist with farming and other land uses within the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

The Park is rich with heritage; from archaeological sites including 12 scheduled ancient monuments, such as, hill forts and cairns, to geological sites that are 430 million years old including three Geodiversity sites. The Pentlands are also steeped in history, with the Battle of Rullion green taking place in 1666 as well as being the hunting ground for Sir Robert the Bruce.
Wildlife

The Park contains a variety of important habitats: heather moorland, woodland, open grassland and reservoirs. This rich mosaic of wildlife, open spaces, farmed land and natural beauty is a result of people having been part of the landscape for thousands of years. Working closely with farmers, landowners and communities, the Pentland Hills Regional Park seeks to retain the essential character of the hills. For bird watchers the Park is abundant with both resident and migrating species. The Park has three enclosed bird hides where hours can be spent watching the wildfowl. The Natural Heritage Service offers the opportunity for the public to help survey some of the rarer species in the Regional Park.

Facilities
Two visitor centres: Harlaw House Visitor Centre and Flotterstone Information Centre
Natural Heritage Service
Nine reservoirs
100km waymarked paths
Cycling
Horse riding
Fishing
Golf
Skiing
Food and drink
Seating
Orienteering course

Upcoming Events at Pentland Hills Regional Park

Sorry, but we have no upcoming events for Pentland Hills Regional Park. If you know of an event taking place at Pentland Hills Regional Park or anywhere else in Edinburgh tell us about it and we'll list it on the website, for free!

More Gardens and Parks in Edinburgh

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park Almond Lodge, Broxburn EH52 5PE

Probably the best kept secret in West Lothian, Almondell & Calderwood Country Park is a 220-acre park and 4 star visitor attraction!
Read more

Calton Hill

NA NA, Edinburgh New Town EH7 5AA

Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, just to the east of the New Town and is included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site.It offers some of...
Read more

Charlotte Square Gardens

40 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh New Town EH2 4HQ

This pleasant, leafy green space located at the heart of the historic New Town is an oasis of tranquility. Like many of the Georgian gardens in Edinburgh...
Read more

Craigmillar Castle Park

Craigmillar Castle Park Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh South EH16 4TB

Craigmillar Castle Park is a natural heritage park with areas of mature and young woodland, grassland and old quarries. In 1997, over 40,000 trees were...
Read more

Dalkeith Country Park

Dalkeith Country Park Dalkeith, Edinburgh South EH22 2NA

As you stroll beneath the oaks in the rambling Country Park, you may find it difficult to believe you are only five miles from the centre of Scotland’...
Read more

Dunbars Close Garden

137 Canongate Edinburgh EH8 8BW, Edinburgh Old Town EH8 8BW

Dunbar’s Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town is a hidden gem, laid out in the style and character of a 17th century garden.
Read more

George Square Gardens

57 George Square, Edinburgh South EH8 9JU

George Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is in the south of the city centre, adjacent to the Meadows. It was laid out in 1766 outside...
Read more

Granton Castle Walled Garden

23 West Shore Road EH5 1QB , Edinburgh North EH5 1QB

Granton's very own secret garden hidden away on Edinburgh's waterfront and was once attached to Granton Castle.
Read more

Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park Queen's Dr, Edinburgh East EH8 8HG

Holyrood Park is a unique historic landscape in the heart of the city, whose dramatic crags and hills give Edinburgh part of its distinctive skyline....
Read more

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House Hopetoun, South Queensferry EH30 9SL

Hopetoun is a place of outstanding natural beauty, which has Scotland\'s finest stately home at its heart. Situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Hopetoun...
Read more

Inverleith Park

Inverleith Park , Stockbridge and Canonmills EH3 5PA

“Inverleith Park is in the heart of Edinburgh, right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, just to the north of the New Town & Stockbridge. At 22 hectares...
Read more

Lauriston Castle

2 Cramond Road South, Edinburgh West EH4 6AD

When you step inside Lauriston Castle, you see it just as it was in 1926, when it was left to the nation by the last private owner, Mrs Reid.The Castle...
Read more

Newhailes House and Gardens

NA Newhailes Road EH21 6RY , Musselburgh EH21 6RY

Discover 300 years of Scottish history through this magnificent and carefully conserved neo-Palladian villa.
Read more

Polkemmet Country Park

NA NA, Near Whitburn EH47 0AD

The Park offers beautiful woodland and riverside walks, play area, picnic areas with seating and a barbecue facility.
Read more

Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HG

Princes Street Gardens lies at centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, within New Town and Old Town Outstanding Conservation Areas. It is listed in...
Read more

Roslin Glen Country Park

Roslin Glen Country Park North Esk Valley, Roslin EH25 9PU

Roslin Glen Country Park is a wooded glen in the North Esk Valley, near the village of Roslin.It contains walks with several places of interest along...
Read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

20A Inverleith Row, Stockbridge and Canonmills EH3 5LR

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction...
Read more

Scotlands Gardens: Edinburgh & Lothians

, Various Locations Edinburgh

Explore large and small gardens of horticultural interest throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians and all of Scotland thanks to Scotland's Gardens Scheme!
Read more

Sighthill Park

Sighthill Park Broomhouse Road, Edinburgh West EH12 3UP

Sighthill is a large park with flat expanses of grass which are dedicated to football and it is bounded by community woodlands.
Read more

St Andrew Square Garden Edinburgh

St.Andrew Square Garden NA, Edinburgh New Town EH2 1AF

Built in 1770 as a private garden for the Square's proprietors, now managed by Essential Edinburgh on behalf of the private owners and open to the public...
Read more

The Meadows

The Meadows Melville Drive, Edinburgh South EH9 9EX

The Meadows remain one of the most important open spaces in Edinburgh and one of the most popular. There's something for everyone with the biggest play...
Read more

Victoria Park Edinburgh

Victoria Park Newhaven Road , Edinburgh North EH6 5PY

A lovely public park in the Trinity area of Edinburgh. The park has been awarded a Green Flag since 2011, in recognition of it being a quality greenspace.
Read more

Vogrie Country Park

Vogrie Country Park Gorebridge, Midlothian EH23 4NU

Vogrie offers a haven of tranquillity in the heart of Midlothian's countryside.It retains much of its character as a Victorian parkland estate, with sweeping...
Read more