Happy Feet, Blackford and Braid Hills: December 29, 2012

I'm back home in Edinburgh and the weather forecast for this Saturday has been fair. I rise in dark, some household duties, and through the window I can see there has been a lot of rain overnight, but as the sun rises I can see now it is indeed fair out there.

I'm heading for the Blackford and Braid Hills trails this morning, a great place for off-road running and only a few minutes drive from home to the small car park on Braid Hills Drive. So, the start from here runs along the bridle path in an easterly direction. The local weather lived up to its reputation of being unpredictable, despite the forecast and earlier observation, I set out with strong wind and heavy rain ... oh well, never mind, it might pass ;-)

Braid Hill Bridle Path

There has been a lot of rain of late, and these paths can get muddy ... the rain and the earth being churned by hooves on the bridle path. I am thinking already that muddiness and sogginess will be a feature of this excursion.

Glorious mud!

This is golf course land, I will come by at least three courses today, so better watch out for low flying golf balls!

You have been warned!

This is a golf course!

I hope you noticed the flags ... there is quite a wind blowing into my face as I ascend in the Braid Hills. The path here is gritted red, and ahead I see two masts near the top.

Masts in the Braid Hills

The trig at the summit is soon reached and I take a moment to savour the scenes. To the south we have gorgeous views to the Pentlands. Turning toward the north we see little Blackford Hill (the next target) and Arthur's Seat in silhouette through the rainy morning haze.

The Braid Hills trig with views to the Pentlands.

Blackford Hill and Arthur's Seat, from Braid Hills

There are a few different ways down in the westerly direction from here. My favourite, of course, is the steep narrow path through the gorse. I have my studs today so I can make the most of it leaping and bounding and dancing my way down ... great fun!

Steep narrow path through gorse on descent from Barid Hills summit.

The  route today rejoins the bridle path until I cross the road onto the Howe Dean Path. which will take me down to Braid burn. The stream here is running fast and hard, I am treated to the sight of a small waterfall. This is a very pretty stepped path alongside the stream, and very popular with the dog walkers.

The Howe Dean Path.

Waterfall near Howe Dean Path

The pretty stepped path alongside the stream.

Honest now, these two walkers both had dogs with them ... how come the dogs are not in the photograph ... well that's something I can't understand! Anyway, what goes down must come up, and on the other side of the Braid burn more steps up as I start to ascend Blackford Hill.

Muddy steps up from Braid burn toward Blackford Hill.

Soon after more ascent, some steep, I see the mast near the summit of Blackford Hill. There are lots of paths to the summit from here, my favourite is the narrow path clinging to the steep slopes east of the summit.

Mast near summit of Blackford Hill.

Narrow path to the east of the summit.

The trig point atop Blackford Hill is soon near, and from there I enjoy the views once more. Facing north-east across the south of the city, Salisbury Crags, and Arthur's Seat. Turning to the south, the Braid Hills, and the Pentlands beyond.

The summit of Blackford Hill.

The south of the city and Holyrood Park, from Blackford Hill.

The Braid Hills, and the wonderful Pentlands beyond.

I now enjoy a fast descent toward the Royal Observatory, you can just about make out a green dome which houses a large telescope, and then a turn to the left along more narrow muddy paths through the gorse bushes.

Descent from Blackford Hill summit toward the Observatory.

More muddy narrow paths through the gorse.

After a turn to the right I join a maintained path and descend steps toward Blackford Pond. One quick circuit of the pond and it's back up those steps ... faster coming down than going up again!

Down steps ...

... around Blackford Pond ...

... and back up steps.

There's an undulating section here until we reach the gate to Midmar Paddock, but I will continue to the gap in the wall and take a right through the trees.

The gate to Midmar Paddock, with some good advice for the dog walkers :)

The gap in the wall ...

... leading to pretty paths through the trees.

The paths through the trees soon bring me to the dovecot, and from there steps down to the river, where I find a dog having fun in the water.

The dovecot.

Dog having fun in the river.

Soon the river is crossed and I ascend the other side through the trees. There has been recent tree fall in the storms, this one blocks the path, no matter, a small diversion in the mud. Talking of mud, to leave the path I slither up through a gap in the fence, and head left across the muddy fields.

Tree fall obstacle course.

Slither through the gap in the fence ...

... onto waterlogged and often muddy field.

Oh, did I mention, muddy :)

This run is now nearly done. I climb back to Braid Drive on the Lang Linn Path, crash through the undergrowth back onto the bridle path for 100 metres of splish-splash-splosh back to the car park.

Up the Lang Linn path ...

... looking back at the upper entrance ...

... crashing through the undergrowth ...

... back onto the Braid Hills bridle path.

I had lovely muddy time despite the wind and rain, ninety minutes of running and snapping, distance 11.9km, climbing 300m. Back at the car park I have happy feet :)

Happy Feet :)

Enjoy!