The Pentlands are a range of hills just an hour and 20 minutes Southwest of Edinburgh. You can take the Lothian buses to and from the city. The hills are an iconic and ancient volcanic landscape, carved by recent glacial history, offering many trails to choose from.

I explored the Pentland Hills on two different occasions, and my first hike was a true adventure. Shortly after starting, I lost my cellular signal, forcing me to rely on my judgment for navigation. Along the trail, I stumbled upon a café run by a local Scottish family. Unfortunately, the weather took a sudden turn for the worse and a storm rolled in. The café owner was incredibly kind and offered me a rain poncho, as I wasn’t equipped for the change of weather. After enjoying a cup of coffee, I set off again. I encountered numerous sheep and reservoirs during my journey. After hiking about 10 miles, I reached a town called Balerno. I found myself on an unexpected side road, which I followed until my signal returned. Just as I arrived at a bus stop, the bus was about to leave, so I sprinted after it, waving my arms to catch the driver’s attention. Fortunately, he noticed me and stopped. It was a stroke of luck that the bus was headed towards Edinburgh.