Rambling and shuffling in the Lomond Hills

[thepigguy]

BishopHill,WestLomond,BunnetStane.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

A quarter-to-eight on an Edinburgh morning and I was on a pre-booked electric Ember bus from St Andrew's Square, heading out to Kinross to tackle a walk that I was a bit surprised to find I'd first planned in 2019 - I can't imagine what stopped me doing it before now.

At the park and ride I had a short wait for the 201 local service to Glenrothes. (Tip: if you're catching this one, stay alert and make yourself visible as the driver nearly missed me among the long-distance coaches).

The driver turned out to be a decent bloke and was happy to stop at the bottom of the steps at the start of the ascent of Bishop Hill rather than at the official stop near the pub in Scotlandwell.

The steps took some of the sting out of the first bit of the way up (this was my first trip to "new" hills of the year and the first hillwalk outside Orkney) and led to some pleasant woodland paths, popular with dog walkers and runners and I made steady progress to the gate that took me out onto the open hillside.

Steps at the start of the route up Bishop Hill

Pleasant woodland walking on the way up

So far, so pretty

First proper look at Bishop Hill

Sunken road and earthworks

Murky view over Loch Leven and Benarty Hill

Gateway onto the open hillside

The well-worn path made for easy going up as far as White Craigs, where there was a choice and I took the lefthand path which followed the "edge", making the most of what views were available over Kinnieswood, Loch Leven and Benarty Hill. Rambling up and down for a short distance took me to a track and then a gate just short of the top of Bishop Hill.

Signs of former lives

Heading uphill, the gradient starting to ease

Taking the path along the "edge"

Last gate before the top of Bishop Hill

Cairn at or near the top of Bishop Hill

There's a cairn at what I think is the top of the hill, but this is one of those where another spot always looks higher, depending on where you stand. I had a good wander around to make sure of being on the summit.

A chilly wind was getting up so I headed down the path, aiming straight at West Lomond, turning right at a wall, following a path over a small amount of boggy ground to some farm gates where I turned again towards West Lomond.

This joined a main path which heads east towards Harperleas Reservoir and then Craigmead. There's a turn-off for John Knox's Pulpit and a short way after that I went left onto a very worn path through the heather, going straight uphill.

On the way down, heading towards West Lomond

About the only boggy bit of the walk, easily crossed

West Lomond

Turning off the main path here

The path up West Lomond is visible just to the left

Progress was steep, but straightforward and I was delighted to get to the top "on schedule" with plenty of time to get down to Gateside for the bus to Glenrothes.

I stayed, drinking tea and admiring the hazy views over to East Lomond, before setting off to see the Bunnet Stane and Maiden's Bower.

Here's where I went a bit wrong. I started to follow the Craigmead path off the summit, but I left it too early and found myself at the top of a very steep "path" dropping straight down to the Bunnet Stane. I considered retracing my steps, but thought I would try to head down. I started zig-zagging with care which was fine, but I soon realised that the grass was soft and mossy, so put on my waterproofs and started easing myself downhill on my backside - not something I'd consider anywhere more challenging than the Lomond Hills.

The top of West Lomond

Time for tea and a look back at Bishop Hill

East Lomond and Harperleas reservoir

The steep way down to the Bunnet Stane

The Bunnet Stane

Maiden's Bower

From below the Bunnet Stane

After a few minutes, the gradient eased and I was back on my feet walking over to the impressive Bunnet Stane where I had a late lunch sitting by the top. From here I took the track down to the parking area and then the mile or so to the bus stop by the Perth Road in Gateside where the 66 took me to Glenrothes where I picked up a connection to Edinburgh.

Looking back at West Lomond