Norman's Law, from Luthrie

The Ochils range extends eastwards far into Fife and Norman's Law is the final summit of any consequence. It offers superb views in all directions as the high point of this enjoyable circuit.

Terrain

Mostly tracks, rougher hill-path near summit. Return route has one boggy section.

Public Transport

Bus to Luthrie

Users' reports

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Start

Luthrie. Map and directions.

grade grade
Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.25km/5 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 280m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NO331196

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Norman's Law

Maps / GPS

View / Print route map
Buy Explorer 371 - St Andrews
GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
GPS Waypoints - GPX
View in 3D
Download walk to Google Earth (KMZ file)

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Luthie is a tiny but attractive village; there is parking by the village hall. Leave the car park by the main entrance and turn right as if heading for the A92, and then right again beside a beautiful cottage. At the next corner where the road bends right go straight ahead onto a made-up track - signed as a public path to Norman's Law. It leads straight between fields to reach a T-junction by a white cottage - turn right here. The track now becomes rough as it climbs and swings round to the left.

Stage 2

The stone building in a field over to the left is a doocot. Continue along the lane until it reaches a house at Carphin. Turn right here, signed for Norman's Law; the track climbs and passes through a gate. Look out for a track which branches off uphill on the left and take this, heading through another gate. Excellent views begin to open up behind across the low, rolling hills of this part of Fife. Soon Norman's Law comes into view ahead, and a small pinewood is over to the left. Leave the track, branching right to follow a much rougher path along the base of the rocky slopes on the right.

Stage 3

The path climbs and then descends slightly towards plantations, then bearing left a little to pass through a gap between them. Pass through a gate to reach a track running across the hill; head across this and follow a rough path up onto the ridge above. After a brief respite the path climbs again to reach the summit, the site of an ancient hill-fort and settlement. These days it is marked by a trig point, a large cairn, and a view indicator that helps to identify the features in a superb 360 degree view.

Stage 4

Return back along the path to the track crossed earlier. The quickest - and driest - route back to the start is to retrace your steps, but it is possible to vary the return to make a circuit. To do so, turn right along the track. The track soon swings right, passes through a gate, and seems to be heading in the wrong direction until it doubles back on itself hard left by a gorse bush (arrow marker on fencepost). It now leads downhill; a short section is very wet before a waymarked gate is reached. Go through the gate and continue ahead through the next field, eventually bearing left to another gate by which point the track has become clearer.

Stage 5

The track forks but it doesn't matter whether the higher or lower option is taken. Eventually it joins another track which comes in from the right. Go straight ahead through a gate and continue in the same direction. There are good views to Norman's Law on the left, and to the Hopetoun Monument on the Mount to the right. The rough track eventually joins a surfaced one - continue ahead on this. At length it swings left to reach the T-junction by the white cottage reached near the start of the walk; turn right here to follow the track back to Luthrie.

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.