7 Fife Marilyns in company for a change

[Sgurr]

Since I was seventy seven, most years I have climbed the seven Marilyns in Fife in a day, just to see if I can.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=99584

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=62760


In 2021, husband was too ill to leave for long, and in 2022 I tried it, but gave up after five as my hip was still sore after crumbling in the Lake District, so I wasn’t too sure about setting out again aged eighty four. However, friends had said they would walk with me, so at 6.20 a.m. on May 21st, as young as I could be after my 84th birthday I met up with them in the car-park by the steps on the south side of Benarty. Only runners seemed to be up just then, so we had the place more or less to ourselves. I posted a picture looking back to BBC Weather Watchers and got an Editor’s Pick (apparently it was on the early news show).


Sabine took this photo of me and Matt at the trig point, since my phone lost all its brightness and I could do nothing with it all day(since solved).

Benarty 1.03 hours 3.47km 140m ascent.



We drove on to West Lomond where I had a coffee and a bit of cereal. We went straight up the front of the hill to save time, and down the side rather than walking all round it,


There was too much litter at the summit, even an empty bottle of Buckfast. I’m afraid we had nothing to carry it in, so left it there.


Looking back to East Lomond


Gloomy Fife countryside. The forecast had suggested sunshine and cloud, but the weather had decided not.


West Lomond: 1 hour 45 mins. 6.95km 230m ascent

I think Sabine and Matt were a bit shocked when I suggested driving round to the other side of the East Lomond, but you start from much higher up, and save time too.
Below, bench overlooking Glenrothes


Path up to East Lomond Here we found a large tent where they had had a rave the previous night. It contained a generator and a lot of turntables. We didn’t take a photo as the occupier was still there


Below, Falkland from near the summit


Sabine at the summit/indicator


At the summit, East Lomond (Falkland Hill)


We met a Mum, and older daughter (10-12?) and two younger kids who had walked all the way up from Glenrothes. We were congratulating them profusely, “so small, getting so high up” when elder daughter chipped in “I carried the pack some of the time.” It’s tough being the older one.
East Lomond: 35minutes, 1.98km , 100metres ascent

We drove to Cairnie hill and parked just before the bridge crosses the railway and something had charged straight into the parapet. I wish I had taken a photo of the jungle I made Matt and Sabine walk through to save a few minutes. It came out eventually onto a path just below the summit


Below, looking towards the Tay from the path


Below, looking towards Mount Hill from near the summit.


West Lomond behind the rock summit


Matt and Sabine did not want their eyes put out so we retunred via the standard route


Below. Later on in the year this is a fabulous tree, but not yet in leaf it looks a bit pathetic.


Cairnie Hill: 48 minutes, 2.69km 130 m ascent

We parked in the car park on the Tay side of Norman’s Law. here we all had our pieces and drinks.Below, the bottom


The Tay, some cows and one of the many unidentifiable flies looking a bit like a microlight


This is the easy peasy ascent of Norman’s Law. A short walk through a wood, a stroll across a field and a short bit of hill


Bottom of the hill


Trig point on Norman’s Law


Looking west and the path down


We could just about see both Tay bridges, but they seem to have vanished in the photo

Norman’s Law: 53minutes, 3.25km. 130m ascent

For the Mound Hill we parked on the tiny road that goes across its bottom from NE to SW. I managed to squash into the side near the footpath end and Matt and Sabine a bit further down


There were far more lambs and sheep than this small selection


Walking up to the Monument


Foot of the Monument


Below the trig point. The bike is one of several belonging to a group of boys from Bell Baxter. They were HORRIFIED to find that we had started walking at 6.30 and had walked almost all day since. Matt gave them advice about taking their litter home, which at their age, probably means they will now leave it there deliberately

Mound Hill: 53 minutes 3,25km 100m ascent

Largo Law. We parked in the car park near the crematorium . At last, the final hill. My hips were protesting despite medication, but surprisingly, they seemed to like going up the steep hill better than walking on the flat, but alas, they also preferred going up to cominc down . In the past, in the dry the baked crumbs of clay have made the descent perilous, but at least the small amount of rain glued them together, so coming down wasn’t as bad as it might have been.


Horses: they always have lovely horses here.


Looking out across the sea, barely anything was visible, as it had now sstarted to rain


There were lots of these pansies near the summit


Last time Sabine and Matt had been up here, there was a father/son combo and son was finding it extremely hard. When he realised that he had only climbed the false summit there were screams of “Dad!!!! I hate you!!!!!!” I KNEW there was a false summit, but it was nonetheless annoying
The summit. Hooray



Descending


Largo Law: 1.03 hours 3.33km 210m ascent
All the timings are from Sabine’s app. We seem to have gone a bit faster than previous years, it may have been due to having them along, but more likely that since my phone went dark, I didn’t post any Weather Watcher pictures after the initial one. Faffing around trying to remember where the nearest village in the BBC data base is, and picking a picture to send off (or taking even more pictures can easily add 5 minutes to each hill.
We took 13 hours 45 mins of walking and driving. We walked 24.63 km and acscended 1040 metres.
Thanks to Sabine and Matt. It was great having someone to cheer me along the way and tell me yet another great story when I started to flag.

[rockhopper]

Well done - a great achievement even for those a few decades younger !
Must try it some time when I eventually get back out on the hills - cheers

[Fife Flyer]

Wow fantastic effort and report.
This could be the "new" Fife challenge and I am always up for one of those. I think the most I did in a day was 4 and that was a few years ago (in my 60's).
As you are probably aware I am familiar with all the hills in Fife, during Lockdown we managed to visit all the 109 Tumps on land and we even managed the odd one legally which was outwith Fife but within 5km (as the crow flies).

[Sgurr]

Wow fantastic effort and report.
This could be the "new" Fife challenge and I am always up for one of those. I think the most I did in a day was 4 and that was a few years ago (in my 60's).
As you are probably aware I am familiar with all the hills in Fife, during Lockdown we managed to visit all the 109 Tumps on land and we even managed the odd one legally which was outwith Fife but within 5km (as the crow flies).

I might try the Tumps when I have finished the Wainwrights (22 to go) which husband and I started, so would like to finish. . I don't know if mine is the NEW Fife Challenge, since a while back (last couple of years) I read in the Courier of a father and son team who had decided to climb the top ten hills in Fife. It took them forever, so I went to investigate and discovered that the route between Knock Hill and Saline Hill is near impossible due to having to haul yourself UP a bank while climbing barbed wire. I think the only thing there would be to walk up Knock Hill ignoring all the "get off my land signs" (I went round and got involved in barbed wire) which would be quite straightforward and quick, then drive to a different approach to Saline Hill (I haven't investigated this yet.) Then add on Lumbennie Hill (quite straightforward) between Cairnie and Norman's Law. However, my hip was too bad even to suggest it, and I doubt if I could do it now. I was so tired, I stumbled out of the car and left the lights on, needing a call to the AA today when I had recovered. I am wondering if I have another round in me at 85. Would have to get fitter rather than less fit, as it was, I did it as soon after my birthday as Matt and Sabine could manage.

[Plug]

An early start and and an inspiring day out. A familiar annual round but one which is always enjoyable to read about.

[PathfinderPaul]

What an inspiration to those of us who are still trying in our seventies

[rohan]

I'm just catching up with this. Fantastic acheivement. I also have a hip that is making itself known. Like you it seems better on the uphill than the flat and downhill is the worst. The exercises the physio gave me really help but my fitness has plummetted as walking has become more of a chore than a joy. However reading your report has given me new impetus, thank-you.