The Lomond Hills

[bootsandpaddles]

This route, which is adapted from “Scottish Hill Tracks”, combines both hills in an interesting and varied circular walk. The starting point is Falkland which is a fascinating place. Not only is there Falkland Palace (NTS) and the House of Falkland but the village is full of beautiful little stone cottages, decked out with lots of flowers in hanging baskets and window boxes. There is a large car park (free! – not many of those left!) to the left of the main street opposite the Palace. From there we walked back to the main street and head up to the square where there is a monument covered in lions.

Fountain with lions

From there we took a narrow lane in a westerly direction. After a short while the road curves round to the left (signposted for Craigmead) but carry straight on and you will enter the grounds of Falkland House. Keep straight on down the driveway and the big house will appear on your left. Avoid all tracks leading off the main drive until you come to a sign indicating the way to Maspie Den. The path runs through woodland alongside the Maspie Burn

and goes under an arched stone bridge

stone bridge

and then through a very dark tunnel before climbing up past waterfalls to reach Maspie Den where there is a waterfall running over a cave.

waterfall

To continue the walk take the path that climbs steeply up to the right as you stand under the waterfall looking out. Eventually the track leads through a gate and down into the car park at Craigmead where there are toilets if you feel the need – very civilized! Then retrace your steps back to the gate and once through it turn left and head off up the broad grassy track. There are views of East Lomond hill behind you

East Lomond

as you ascend towards West Lomond which soon appears ahead.

West Lomond

The views of the coast open out and there is a feeling of height even though the route is not really very high at all. The final push to the trig point of West Lomond is pretty steep but then there are brilliant views all round.

Nearly at the summit of West Lomond, East Lomond in the distance

It was rather windy when we were there but there are some stone walls to get behind for a bit of shelter.

After a coffee we descended by a grassy path in a south-easterly direction. This path was quite steep and eroded and turned south after a while to reach a track quite near to Harperleas Reservoir. There was a magnificent display of heather all around.

Heather

We turned west along this path until we reached a gate on the left and a path heading south uphill. We left this path after a short while and gained the broad north ridge of Bishop Hill. There were several gliders soaring overhead as we reached the cairn. In the distance further south we could see a communications “golf ball” on top of a tower above a plantation and the views across Loch Leven were magnificent. We followed the path towards the golf ball for a while and then at another gate we picked up a track that led across to a gate giving access to a track through the plantation. Emerging from the trees we found ourselves in farmland and on a good track which led past farm buildings to Holl Reservoir. At the far end of the dam a broad and muddy forest track went uphill through the woods to emerge above Ballo Reservoir. We followed the path, which is well signposted here, to a fishing hut and then uphill to reach a minor road. Here you could turn left and get back to Craigmead car park and then go up East Lomond hill from there. However we decided to turn right and take the track which leaves the road at a right hand bend near Easter Glasslie. This landed us in a field of curious cows and then in a bog! But we eventually gained the main track and then climbed steeply up to the summit of East Lomond. From there we could see Falkland with its historic house

House of Falkland

and the palace

Falkland

and we hoped a good tearoom! We quickly lost height and entered more woods where there were hundreds of wooden steps which took us down into Falkland – and behold! Kind Kyttock’s Tea Room where we had a wonderful pot of tea with pancakes and scones.

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[Paula Hubens]

Very nice walk you had! Wow, Maspie Den is some place Also love the picture of the heather!

[hills]

Like these hills, and like the look of this walk.

[nigheandonn]

The Lomond Hills seem to always be haunting the horizon - both from the Pentlands and the John Muir Way! I didn't realise they were so close to Falkland...

[kiltedbiggles]

Superb report and a great circuit!!

I grew up in Glenrothes and these hills were my bread and butter for years, I've biked/walked/sledged etc up and down them countless times..........and Maspie Den entrances everyone I've ever taken to it

In a recent conversation with my mum we worked that I first got up East Lomond in the year of the Queens Silver Jubilee when I was 3 years old

Glad you had a good day out!