After spending the first couple of weeks of 2011 in Russia, it took us a while to get out and about in Scotland. We didn’t get far either, barely leaving Edinburgh!

Harlaw Reservoir is situated at the foot of the Pentland Hills, but driving there it feels like you never leave built-up areas, passing almost seamlessly from Edinburgh to Juniper Green, then through Currie and Balerno, before finally reaching farmland at Harlaw.

The reservoir was built between 1843 and 1848, along with its larger neighbour Threipmuir Reservoir, by the Edinburgh Water Company, to supply water to Edinburgh. It is now a favourite haunt of dog walkers, cyclists, bird-watchers and fishermen.

A muddy track runs all the way around the reservoir, and while there are more tracks off to Threipmuir and into the surrounding hills, this was enough for us on this cold, wet and misty day!