Bonaly Reservoir, Harbour Hill, Clubbiedean Reservoir and Torduff Reservoir Loop

This roughly 10 km / 6.2 mile loop with about 200 m / 656 ft of ascent is a varied Pentland Hills outing that mixes reservoir-side walking, open hillside, moorland edge, and broad views back over Edinburgh. With an estimated medium difficulty, it suits walkers who are comfortable with a few steady climbs, uneven paths, and occasional muddy or exposed sections rather than anything technical. The route is generally associated with Bonaly Country Park, near the Bonaly Road car park, Edinburgh, which is the most practical landmark for the start. Bonaly sits on the northern edge of the Pentland Hills Regional Park, and the loop links Bonaly Reservoir, Harbour Hill, Torduff Reservoir, and Clubbiedean Reservoir in a compact but scenic circuit. (en.wikipedia.org)

The walk usually begins near Bonaly Road / Bonaly Country Park car park, Edinburgh, the main access point into the park. From there, paths lead quickly into the lower park and toward Bonaly Reservoir, where the route starts gently before building into a more open hill walk. Bonaly Reservoir itself was created in 1853 by damming the Dean Burn, on the site of the earlier Bonaly Pools, and it forms one of several historic water-supply reservoirs built to serve Edinburgh as the city expanded. Clubbiedean and Torduff are part of that same wider reservoir landscape, and together they give the walk a strong sense of local engineering history as well as natural beauty. (en.wikipedia.org)

What to expect on the route

The first section is usually the easiest underfoot, with clear paths and a gradual approach to Bonaly Reservoir. This stretch is a good warm-up, with woodland and open water softening the urban edge. After roughly 1.5 to 2 km / 0.9 to 1.2 miles, the route begins to feel more spacious as it heads toward the slopes around Harbour Hill. The climb here is not especially long, but it is where much of the day’s ascent is gained. Expect a steady pull rather than a sharp mountain-style grind, with the reward being wider views across the Pentlands and north toward Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, and on clear days beyond into Fife. Sources describing walks in this area consistently note these expansive outlooks from the Bonaly side of the hills. (en.wikipedia.org)

Around the middle of the loop, the character changes from parkland and reservoir edge to more open hillside. Paths can be grassy, stony, or worn through heather and rough ground depending on the exact line taken. In wet weather, expect boggy patches and slick mud, especially where paths contour around the hill or descend toward the reservoirs. Wind exposure can also be more noticeable here than the modest elevation suggests. Even on a relatively short route, conditions can feel much cooler on the open ground than at the trailhead.

The descent brings you toward Torduff Reservoir, a long, narrow body of water below the western flank of Torduff Hill, and then onward to Clubbiedean Reservoir, which lies just above it. These two reservoirs sit close together and are linked by the local drainage system, with overflow from Clubbiedean feeding Torduff. The road and track sections around them make for easier walking after the hill section, though they can still be damp and breezy. This part of the route often feels quieter and more remote than its proximity to Edinburgh would suggest. (scottish-places.info)

Landmarks, landscape, and wildlife

The standout landmarks are the four named features of the loop itself: Bonaly Reservoir, Harbour Hill, Torduff Reservoir, and Clubbiedean Reservoir. Bonaly Country Park forms the lower, more wooded setting, while the upper ground transitions into the heather moorland and unimproved grassland typical of the Pentlands. The park is managed as part of the Pentland Hills Regional Park, with lower woodland areas and more open upland terrain above. (en.wikipedia.org)

Wildlife varies with season, but walkers should watch for common upland and waterside species such as mallards, swans, geese, gulls, and other waterbirds around the reservoirs, along with small songbirds and raptors over the open slopes. The moorland and rough grassland habitat can also support insects, amphibians near wetter ground, and grazing animals in some sections. If livestock are present, give them space and keep dogs under close control. Ground-nesting birds may also be a concern in spring and early summer, so sticking to established paths is especially important then.

One of the more interesting historical notes in the area is the presence of an Iron Age hillfort near Clubbiedean, evidence that these slopes were used long before the reservoirs were built. That gives the route an appealing historical layering: prehistoric occupation on the higher ground, then