Scotland
Scald Law
579M
1900FT
About Scald Law
As the highest point in the Pentland Hills, this rounded volcanic summit offers a classic ridge-walking experience just south of Edinburgh. The terrain is largely grassy, though the paths are well-worn and popular. From this Marilyn, you gain clear, earned views across the Firth of Forth to the Highland fringe.
Key Statistics
Rank
122nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
314m
Nearest Town
Penicuik
Geology
You are walking on ancient layers of volcanic ash and hardened lava. These rocks belong to the Woodhouselee, Caerketton, and Allermuir volcanic formations.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT191610
Latitude
55.8362°N
Longitude
3.2922°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Scots word 'scald', meaning bare or shorn, combined with 'law', a common term for a prominent hill. It perfectly describes the smooth, treeless profile that characterises this part of the range.
- •The hill is composed of Devonian volcanic rock, specifically andesite and dacite lavas. This harder material has resisted erosion more effectively than the surrounding sedimentary sandstones, allowing it to remain the highest peak in the Pentlands.
- •It is the centrepiece of the popular 'Pentland Skyline' walk, a challenging circular route that typically includes the neighbouring peaks of East Kip, West Kip, and the slightly lower Carnethy Hill.
- •From the summit, you can clearly identify the three bridges crossing the Firth of Forth to the north, while looking south-east reveals the rolling profiles of the Moorfoot and Lammermuir Hills.
- •Given its proximity to the capital, the summit 'solitude' is frequently shared with a significant portion of Edinburgh’s population on any given sunny Sunday afternoon.