Harlaw Reservoir

Harlaw Reservoir is a small body of water in the City of Edinburgh area, set at the foot of the Pentland Hills close to Currie and Balerno. It sits behind an earth gravity dam built between 1843 and 1848, downstream of Threipmuir Reservoir. The dam was designed by civil engineer James Jardine and commissioned by the Edinburgh Water Company. Its purpose was to act as a compensation reservoir for the Water of Leith. The reservoir and its dam remain a quiet reminder of 19th-century engineering. The walk around the reservoir’s edge is the main attraction. The path passes through the Harlaw wildlife garden, where hedgelaying keeps maintenance low. West Kip, one of the Pentland Hills, can be seen from the water’s edge. The route offers a clear view of the dam and the surrounding slopes. It provides a straightforward walk in open countryside without steep climbs. Visitors find a simple loop path that circles the reservoir. The wildlife garden introduces native plants and small animals. The dam itself shows the earth construction typical of its period. Beyond the water, the Pentland Hills rise gently, giving a sense of space. The route links to a path that leads on to Threipmuir Reservoir.