The Dog Rambler

Monday

24 E-diary
May 2010

Walk Reservoir Round, The Pentlands Length 6.4

miles
Dogs on walk Finn, Struan, Talaidh

Back to an old favourite today with a circular walk taking in three of the northern
Pentland’s reservoirs. We parked up below Bonaly, where the car park is getting busier at
this time of year, and headed off along the access road to Torduff Reservoir. This also adds
about another 1/2 mile to the walk. Along here where Finn barked at two children
waiting for their mother to catch them up.

It has been at least a couple of weeks since we last did this walk and the changes along the
reservoir side are remarkable. The reservoir itself looks much the same in its kidney shaped
cutting in the ground, gently washing in the breeze. However, on the other side of the path
a riot of colour has appeared. The spiny, rather mean looking gorse bushes, where now
blushing yellow, aglow with masses of coconut smelling flowers; transforming their look.
Beneath these, plots of bluebells rose on their slender spikes, drooping under the weight of
their bell shaped flowers five or six to a stem. Along the path edge various types of
Apiaceae, umbrella like with clusters of tiny delicate creamy white flowers on slim stems
blended the gorse and the bluebell.

As I appreciated this new growth, the dogs went off to make friends with a rescue German
Shepherd. As they sniffed and sized each other up, the owner struck up a conversation
with me. This delay lead to the two boys, Finn had barked at before, to pass us. He barked
again. Their mother and a couple of friends passed and he did not bark. There was
obviously something about these boys.

Off again, we followed the mother of the boys, with a cocker spaniel that moved ahead to
join the boys. We caught her and her friends up by the gentle stream that links the higher
Clubbidean Reservoir with Torduff Reservoir. We did not quite catch the boys, now with
some friends, who had been waiting further up; as they headed off atop the dam of
Clubbidean. We kept to the track along its western bank, so Finn was denied another bark.

Clubbidean appeared to be basking in the warmth, as the sun drove some of the low cloud
cover away. The reflection of the Scotts Pines and the new leaves on the deciduous trees
gave a green hem to its sparkling gauzy surface, until the dogs jumped in for a cooling
bathe.

Beyond Clubbidean and some sheep with their lambs had gathered up against the fence in
the field bordering a turn in the track. The dogs ignored them. Even when caught in this
tight space, by the fence with a bend in it following the track, caused a bit of commotion
amongst the lambs.

Further on the patchwork of fields were now a palate of greens. The rich, dark and moist
earth, a turned landscape of miniature brown mountain ranges, were now lost below the
quickening crop as each plant sought to outgrow its neighbour, cultivating that all
important light for itself.

Rounding the track we reached Easter Kinleith farm, quiet today, no sleepy dog or
murmur of farm machinery. As always the dogs’ noses rose toward the enchanting smells
drifting from the open barn, with straw fanning outward into the yard. We moved on
along the farm road passed Mid Kinleith and onto Wester Kinleith, a whitewashed cottage
with whitewashed stones outside on the manicured and mown grass verge.

Here we took a gravel track rising gently toward the Pentland Hills in the distance,
outlined against an indifferent sky, with ugly, pallid clouds rolling back across any
remaining blue.

This track too was now glowing with colour despite the pasty sky. The white flowers of
dead nettles, campions and ransoms, mixed with the blues and reds of red campions and
speedwells. Tying it all together was the vivid blush of the gorse flowers, tempered by the
deep greens of the trees. The dogs nosed about along the track, not showing much sign of
any great exuberance.

This all changed as we passed through the gate making the end of the wooded track and
the beginning of the moorland. This always rouses the dogs to thrash through the flexing
stalks of grass, brushing along their sides and over their ears. Today was no exception,
Talaidh led the way, with Finn and Struan in close pursuit as she wheeled through the
densest grass, almost lost within it. Finn drew away when Talaidh got too excited and
began to bark eagerly. The chasing drew to a close as the dogs tongues drew further out of
their mouths.

Back in an orderly pattern we proceeded over the moorland and upwards toward the gap
between Harbour Hill and Bells Hill. In amongst the burnt orange grass, looking like it has
been baked by the recent heat, several groups of sheep idled peacefully. They were all well
away from us until we topped Harbour Hill.

Here Finn was the first to spot a sheep looking languidly at us. He stood stock still, then
came to join me as we gently made our way past. Further down the slope several other
sheep and a few separated lambs kept us under observation, the occasional worried bleat
from a lamb bringing the dogs heads up.

Below Bonaly Reservoir winked invitingly in the returning sun. Soon we were on its banks
and the dogs stepped in to cool off and have a good slurp. Dripping on the track we
headed down, Edinburgh disordered below us and the Firth of Forth pale beyond. The
track took us into the shade of the Scots Pines on the final descent to Bonaly car park.
Confused the dogs looked for the Jeep, forgetting that we were parked further down the
road. Before long we were back at the Jeep and in jumped the dogs and home we went.
Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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Nick Fletcher
The Dog Rambler
9 Links Street
Musselburgh www.thedogrambler.com
East Lothian nick@thedogrambler.com
EH21 6JL t. 0131 665 8843 or 0781 551 6765

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