My second venture into the Pentland Hills took place just over four weeks later. This time my walk was circular, starting and ending at the Balerno terminus of Lothian Buses route 44. Once again, two reservoirs were involved: on this occasion Harlaw and Threipmuir.
Like nearby Currie, Balerno was formerly a Midlothian village that has now been incorporated into the City of Edinburgh council area. It styles itself as Gateway to the Pentlands, and as I previously experienced, is also the starting point of the Water of Leith Walkway. On arrival at the Cockburn Crescent bus terminus, I headed initially for Malleny Mills and then onwards to Harlaw House, situated near the northern tip of Harlaw Reservoir. The obvious way forward from here would have been to take the path along the western side of the reservoir, but instead I decided to use the alternative route via the northeast- and southeast-facing shores.
Soon enough, I reached a narrow strip of land and crossed the channel through which Threipmuir Reservoir can drain into Harlaw. From there, I walked along the northwest shore of Threipmuir to the point where the path veers away from the water towards a public car park. It was then a relatively short walk back to the bus stop on public roads.
