Glencorse Reservoir

Silence. Only the sound of the wind whistling past your ears and the gentle lapping of the water against the embankment. This is Glencorse Reservoir. A place of serene beauty nestled in the heart of the Pentland Hills. It’s hard to imagine that this tranquil expanse of water was once a bustling valley. Glencorse Reservoir was created between 1820 and 1824. It was a feat of engineering, requiring the construction of a 23.5-meter high earth dam, one of the tallest in Britain at the time. This dam tamed the Glencorse Burn, a tributary of the River North Esk, and submerged the valley beneath its waters. The reservoir served a vital purpose: providing water for the mills in the surrounding area and, most importantly, quenching the thirst of the growing city of Edinburgh. Imagine the crystal-clear water flowing through cast-iron pipes. It travelled all the way to those iconic reservoirs nestled in Edinburgh, Castlehill and the one near George Heriot’s School. But Glencorse Reservoir holds a secret, one that whispers beneath the surface. Submerged beneath the waves lies the 13th-century chapel of St Catherine’s of the Hopes. A silent testament to the history buried beneath the reservoir’s placid surface. Today, Glencorse Reservoir continues to be a vital source of water for Edinburgh. A 2012 Water Treatment Works now stands on its banks. This modern marvel ensures that the legacy of this once bustling valley lives on. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature, and appreciate the tranquil beauty of Glencorse Reservoir. It is a place where history and nature intertwine, offering a moment of peace just a stone’s throw from the city’s hustle and bustle.