Start Point: westside
Difficulty:
Distance: 3.8km
Elevation Up: 179m
Elevation Down: 179m
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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The start
Set off from the Woodshed carpark, turning right and heading up the grassy path to the gate and stile. Cross the stile and head along the old stone dyke, then joining the worn grass path out of the field via a wooden gate and onto the hill.
After leaving the field, the path quickly comes to a cross roads. Turn right past the age-old right-of-way sign to head around the Cap Law hill on a narrow footpath. The footpath follows the contour along the side of the hill and up the valley. You'll pass through a wooded area bounded at each end by a gate - which you should pass through.
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Once you reach the end of the path at the head of the valley (a place we call "The Poles") cross the vehicle track and up the path the leads 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 the gate, past the windmill and down to Eastside carpark.
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Homeward bound
To return to Westside only a little further. At the carpark, turn right don the steep section of road to the sheep shed. Cross the little ford and start heading up the track then take the next gate on your left. A brisk 5 minute walk uphill and back over the fields will have you home to the Woodshed.
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