Start Point: eastside
Difficulty:
Distance: 2.8km
Elevation Up: 164m
Elevation Down: 164m
An energetic hike to the top of the Kips is highly recommended, if not compulsory, for Eastside guests! The West & East Kips rise up behind the cottages. Their ascent can be steep in places but the views are well worth the effort. From the summits look north to the Forth and Highlands or south to Eastside and the Moorfoot Hills beyond. This is a spectacular picnic spot for a summer afternoon in the hills.
Elevation Profile
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Setting off
From Eastside farmyard head out past the kennels, past the sheep shed & over the ford to head up the old drove road in the direction of Balerno. Don't forget to stop and look behind you as you progress up the hill. The views down the valley behind can be worth taking a picture.
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Once you reach the top of the track at the head of the valley (a place we call "The Poles") take the path to the right. This heads straight up the West Kip. The path is steep in places and it gets slightly rocky towards the top but no scrambling is required.
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West Kip summit
The path narrows near the top as the West Kip summit is a little craggy. Look down to the north over the Hare Hill - a raised blanket bog home to red & black grouse as well as curlew and other ground-nesting birds. In the distance is the Firth of Forth & The Highlands. To the south is the Eastside valley and the Moorfoot Hills in the distance beyond.
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Wildlife spotting
These open hill habitats are home to some wonderful wildlife. Sit a while to see the skylarks singing, kestrels hunting, dotterel on their migration, or the curlew and red grouse in the wild hill grasses dotted with hare bell, bedstraws, trefoil, and blaeberry. Where there is heather, this will turn an astonishing purple colour (usually in late August to early September).
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East Kip Summit
Follow the path over the summit of West Kip and descend to the saddle between West and East Kip. From here, it's a short ascent onto the East Kip summit where you'll be rewarded with a better view of the Logan Lea Reservoir & Green Cleugh glen. The Green Cleugh is famed for its rock formations as well as its flora and waterfall.
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The descent
Follow the path down from the East Kip summit to the 'Nick' (the col between East Kip and Scald Law). Here there is a grassy crossroads. Turn right to follow the grass track down from and back to the cottages. Pass through a gate and follow your nose - you'll be back at Eastside in no time.
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