Pentland Hills, Midlothian and East Lothian - Keith Fergus

Think of East Lothian and Midlothian and a low-lying, predominantly rural landscape may well spring to mind, yet the Pentland Hills, just south of Edinburgh, rise to nearly 600m in height and provide some of the finest hillwalking in Scotland with wonderful views from the summits. To the east, the Lammermuir Hills may not have quite the same appeal as their near neighbours but they still offer superb hillwalking options, while North Berwick Law, Traprain Law and the Garleton Hills make up for what they lack in height with a succession of incredible panoramas. Away from the high ground there a lovely pockets of woodland, wildlife-rich country parks, fascinating historic sites and forty miles of coastline between Musselburgh and Dunbar with some of the best dune-backed beaches in the country to enjoy.