East Cairn Hill

About East Cairn Hill

Rising as the highest point in the City of Edinburgh, this prominent Pentland summit offers a rugged, heather-clad character. Reached via the historic Cauldstane Slap pass, its broad top is crowned by a massive prehistoric cairn, providing expansive views across the Forth to the Ochil Hills and the Fife coast.

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Did You Know?

• •The name refers to the massive Bronze Age burial cairn on the summit, which was unfortunately partially dismantled in the 19th century to provide stone for a nearby boundary wall.
• •The summit serves as a geographical cornerstone where the borders of the City of Edinburgh, West Lothian, and the Scottish Borders all meet.
• •The approach often utilizes the Cauldstane Slap, a historic mountain pass that was once a major cattle drove road used to move livestock from the Highlands toward the markets of northern England.
• •From the summit, the three Forth Bridges are often clearly visible to the north, contrasting with the empty, rolling horizons of the Southern Uplands to the south.
• •The western slopes are notorious for their deep peat hags, which offer a definitive, soggy test of whether your walking boots are truly as waterproof as the manufacturer claimed.