free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A necessarily later start meant the planned trip down to the southern uplands wasn't practical. But ticking off a few more subs across the firth in Fife was definitely on the cards.
Mount HillDistance: 3.9km
Ascent: 137m
Time taken: 53 minutes
I started off with Mount Hill. I didn't fancy the long walk in from Cupar suggested in the WH guide. I managed to park at the space between the tree and gate just off the narrow road which goes past Mount Hill to the south, which was suggested as an alternative.
I followed the guide up to the Hopetoun Monument at the top. There are not what you could call extensive views due to the surrounding trees, though Norman's Law can be spotted through a gap to the north.
I picked a different route down, further to the west. All in all a pleasant, gentle walk to start with. Though the flies were starting to become a pest, especially in the wooded sections.
- Hopetoun Monument peaking over the trees
- The Hopetoun Monument
- The only view form the trig is north towards Norman's Law
- View of the Lomond Hills, on the way down the south west side of Mount Hill
- Overgrown track heading back down to the road
Cairnie HillDistance: 9.1km
Ascent: 264m
Time taken: 2 hours
Next was Cairnie Hill, just along the road. I couldn't find a parking spot I was confident would be suitable, despite various suggestions in other reports. In the end I decided to park at the other end of Lindores Loch, and do the loch circuit guide on WH, with a detour up to the top of the hill.
The route along the loch was pleasant, though I took a wrong turn and ended up in a corner of a field with progress blocked where the railway line and wood meet, near the road at the south end of the loch. Doubling back I found the correct track through the wood and down to the road.
Climbing Cairnie Hill was hot work, and no more than the occasional breath of wind to provide respite from the increasing hordes of flies. I reached the top, which would have been a good place to stop for a rest, but the flies made it intolerable, so I pressed on.
From the north end of the hill I turned east and walked through a meadow, and then a field of cut grass to a track which led back down to the road. Looking at it later I'd have been better heading north east from the spot where I got a good photo of the loch - a much more direct route. That said, on the track I did see many young pheasants, running along the track in front of me like a flock of little roadrunners!
Once back to the road I followed the guide around the north side of the loch, through Lindores and back to the car park at the church.
- Looking over the railway line to Lindores Loch
- Looking over the loch to Lindores
- Curious sheep
- The track leading to Cairnie Hill summit
- Looking west from the summit
- Remains of a tumulus
- Lindores Loch (with fly swarm edited out)
- Back at the main road, about to head up the track to Inchrye
- Woodland path over the top of Long Hill
- Back at the car park overlooking the railway line
Largo LawDistance: 3.5km
Ascent: 266m
Time taken: 1 hour 14 minutes
Last, I made my way down towards Largo Bay to climb Largo Law, following the WH guide up and back the same way. I was amused by the information sign at the start of the walk, stating that Largo Law may once have been a Munro. I guess all those boots do cause erosion after all
- Heading up the track to Chesterstone, with Largo Law looming over it to the left
- About to start the climb proper
- Reaching a summit... only to discover the main summit is over there! Not much further though
- View from the bealach between the two summits, looking west to the Lomond Hills
- Looking east over Craig Rock
- View east along the coast from the summit
- View west along the coast, over Leven and Methil
