West Water Reservoir is an artificial lake located in the Pentland Hills of the Scottish Borders. Created in 1969, it sits at an elevation of 320 meters (1,050 ft) above sea level, surrounded by upland moorland and rough grazing. This landscape provides a scenic backdrop for several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more. The area is also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site, known for its ecological importance.
64
Routes
4.5
(46)
Average rating
771
People visited

4.7
(3)
50
hikers
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(6)
43
hikers
11.9km
03:14
170m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
13
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
12
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

3.0
(1)
16
runners
13.1km
01:54
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

15
runners
10.4km
01:11
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
15.9km
01:45
170m
170m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
runners
8.79km
00:56
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.5
(2)
80
riders
44.1km
01:51
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

63
riders
53.8km
02:32
420m
420m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

56
riders
48.5km
02:14
440m
440m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

26
riders
25.4km
01:06
180m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(1)
12
riders
19.5km
01:55
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
29.5km
02:39
490m
490m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

2
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4
riders
25.5km
02:15
500m
500m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(1)
9
riders
43.3km
02:51
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
49.7km
03:04
390m
390m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
64.6km
03:57
540m
540m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
41.6km
03:13
520m
520m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(1)
3
riders
26.6km
02:09
490m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3
riders
33.0km
02:33
510m
510m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
25.8km
01:54
280m
280m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

39.7km
03:03
550m
550m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
West Water Reservoir is an artificial lake located in the Pentland Hills of the Scottish Borders, created in 1969. It sits at an elevation of 1,050 feet (320 meters) above sea level, surrounded by upland moorland. The area is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site, recognized for its ecological importance.
West Water Reservoir offers various outdoor activities, including Hiking, Road cycling, Jogging, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The region's undulating hills and varied terrain are suitable for diverse outdoor pursuits. Komoot users have rated routes in the area an average of 4.65 out of 5 stars.
Yes, West Water Reservoir provides hiking options suitable for families. Specific routes are available that cater to different fitness levels. Information on these trails can be found in guides such as Family-friendly hikes around West Water Reservoir.
West Water Reservoir offers easy hiking routes suitable for beginners or those seeking less strenuous walks. These paths allow individuals to enjoy the scenic environment. A guide for these trails is available at Easy hikes around West Water Reservoir.
The area around West Water Reservoir offers various cycling options, including Road cycling, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. Cyclists can find both paved and unpaved routes. Guides like Road Cycling Routes around West Water Reservoir and Cycling around West Water Reservoir provide more details.
Yes, West Water Reservoir features options for traffic-free bike rides, suitable for various cycling types. These routes offer a peaceful experience away from vehicular traffic. Information can be found in guides such as Traffic-free bike rides around West Water Reservoir.
West Water Reservoir is a vital habitat for diverse wildlife, particularly birds. It serves as a significant winter roost for pink-footed geese, with historical counts exceeding 40,000 birds. Other species include breeding common gull, common ringed plover, dunlin, common tern, and wintering common goldeneye, barnacle goose, and Eurasian teal.
West Water Reservoir is a popular destination among komoot users, with more than 3,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the region have received an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among outdoor enthusiasts.
Yes, West Water Reservoir offers dedicated running trails for joggers. These routes allow individuals to exercise while enjoying the scenic environment. A guide for these trails is available at Running Trails around West Water Reservoir.
Beyond its natural beauty, West Water Reservoir holds archaeological significance. The creation of the reservoir exposed an Early Bronze Age flat cist cemetery. Nine cists containing human remains and grave goods were discovered during its construction.
Yes, West Water Reservoir provides mountain biking trails for enthusiasts. The varied terrain of the Pentland Hills offers suitable conditions for MTB. A guide detailing these trails can be found at MTB Trails around West Water Reservoir.
While specific public transport details are not readily available, komoot offers guides for hikes accessible from bus stations around the area. These guides can assist in planning routes that incorporate public transport. Refer to Hikes from bus stations around West Water Reservoir for more information.

