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  5. 2. West Cairn Hill in the Pentland Hills

2. West Cairn Hill in the Pentland Hills

West Cairn Hill is West Lothian's highest hill, at 562m above sea level, and it lies within the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

2 West Cairn Hill in the Pentland Hills

Outcrops of sandstone with sedimentary structures are exposed on the north-west slopes of the West Cairn Hill. These were laid down at the beginning of the Carboniferous Period about 359 million years ago. An impressive late Bronze Age - Iron Age cairn at the summit is one of several in the area and is indicative of this old tradition of burials on hilltops. There are views in all directions and on a clear day the Ochils, Ben More and Schiehallion can be seen.

West Cairn Hill can be climbed via the col of Cauldstane Slap (passing site 1 Baad Park Burn on the way), from the parking place on the A70 near Little Vantage. There is an alternative, but longer route, from West Linton. Nearby sites are Baad Park Burn (1) and Auchinoon Quarry (36).