North Fife 3 Marilyns and a bonus in Perth

[The Rodmiester]

Forecast was always to be good for today, after a weekend of painting in the house I needed to get out there and get some fresh air. Set off early from Carnoustie to beat the rush hour traffic into Dundee headed over the Tay Bridge and targeted Normans Law as my first for the day, parked at a wee spot adjacent to the Church at the top of the hill just outside Luthrie and started my walk at 0800hrs. Bright and hazy sun with a hard frost greeted me as I climbed over the gate to the first field.

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The parking area has just about room for two cars, maybe not a good choice on a Sunday or a holiday, but fine for retired guy on a Monday. Climb the gate and head up the field, cross over the dyke at the top as there are plenty of places to cross with the fencing already down. Cross back to the upper field later on.

Looking back at the sunrise, a bit hazy but apart from that superb walking conditions.

Follow the stone dyke then cross over to the adjoining field on the right.

Cross this field diagonally (on the return journey had some cows in it, no problems. There is a gate at the bottom of the field with a track, head left up the track.

Track ice and frost beginning to melt.

Nice view looking back.

Keep walking in the direction of the summit and soon you will be faced with some trees blocking your way, head to the right of the trees and you will find a new gate at the bottom of the final climb to the summit.

First sign of the Trig point at the summit along with cairn and directional plate on a plinth.

Trig point and a view towards the River Tay and Dundee. Time to top 50mins

Back to the start the same way total time 1h 30mins

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Parking area at side of narrow road adjacent to right of way track signposted to Mount Hill. Start time 0950hrs. Good track, head up with farm on your Right at the top there is a y junction take the left fork, it has a directional sign as well, you cannot go wrong.

Tower in the distance, farmer ploughed the field already.

Next track your on gives nice walking with a central grassed area giving the soft option. Pass a wooden gate with an access gate on the side for pedestrians, remember to close the gate.

You soon come to a second gate, here you turn right up a muddier track, also signposted.

Head on up this track which has a dogleg to the right at the top, continue climbing and take a right hand turn and soon you will be able to see the tower on your left.

Your view of the tower.

Trig point at the summit, not a great day for pictures at the top too hazy.

The tower at the summit. It only took 20mins to the top, and 35mins in total to get back to the car. I feel number 3 coming on, bring on Cairny Hill.

Memorial plaque on the tower, above the entrance door.

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Parking spot B937 just after a bridge and adjacent to the railway on the left and also near a telephone mast. From here I walked back to the track on the opposite side of the road.

Track on other side of the road

The track enters a field, bouble back on yourself there is a directional sign on a post. Follow the line of the trees until you find a gate, very boggy at this point. Head up diagonally up the field and find a way through a small tree plantation. Through another field where you can see the top. Climb through the goarse bushes near the summit and find the summit stone near a large tree. Sorry ran out of pictures showing summit stone etc. I forgot the downloaded maps must count towards your total. Anyway great morning and headed off to do Moncrieff Hill just ouside Perth and got back to Carnoustie by 1330hrs

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[gyles]

Looked to be a great day out.

Love those crisp, frosty mornings.

[gmr82]

Excellent 4-in-a-day Rodmiester, I was looking at the North Fife Marilyns 2 weekends ago as it was one of the few forecasts without fog! Looks like you had the same weather today. The colour of the sun on the frosty ground looks absolutely lovely in those early morning shots

[The Rodmiester]

Looked to be a great day out.

Love those crisp, frosty mornings.

Hi gyles, it was a brilliant morning, having not been out for a while it felt even better. A most enjoyable time was had, only down side was the haze for on the top views.

[The Rodmiester]

Excellent 4-in-a-day Rodmiester, I was looking at the North Fife Marilyns 2 weekends ago as it was one of the few forecasts without fog! Looks like you had the same weather today. The colour of the sun on the frosty ground looks absolutely lovely in those early morning shots

Hi gmr82, bare that in mind when your planning as and when you do these, if you get an early start, you might be able to do more in the afternoon. I did not really appreciate how easy Mount Hill would be, and was allowing 1h30m, I did it 35mins, ok I walk reasonably fast, being on my own, you go your own speed and Cairnie Hill was also very short, no distinct cairn or trig point, just a big rock and a pile of overgrown rocks. Good luck when you do them, a frosty day would be good, as some bits are muddy.

[Gordie12]

I like the look of the first two.

Angus, Perthshire, Fife, I'm tired just reading these reports

[The Rodmiester]

I like the look of the first two.

Angus, Perthshire, Fife, I'm tired just reading these reports

No more Angus for a while, wait for something completely different next week, as I do not wish to bore you any more Yep, the first two were good, enjoyed them, no access problems and both had easy parking available.

[The Rodmiester]

I was up Norman's Law two weeks ago as a 15 minute detour from the Fife Coastal path between Newburgh and Newport. It was a good way to do it as it was reached after over an hour of rather dispiriting walking. - The path had gone inland in a loop back towards Newburgh for a bit with the Tay totally out of sight. Emerging from the trees and seeing the Tay from just below Norman's Law was a wonderful sight. I really enjoyed the Norman's Law photos.
Like you I did 3 Fife Marilyns in February a few years ago, combining Mount Hill and Cairnie Hill with Largo Law.

Hi RTC, yes Norman's Law was certainly the pick of the four hills, really enjoyed it, you mention Largo Law, I remember doing the LL Hill race many many years ago, when I was reasonably fit, it started at Lower Largo and up the road to the West of LL then went off road to the East followed by the steep climb, I always remember that race as I had a hard time getting into my running rhythm when running on the road down hill after the jolting of all the effort coming off the hill

[Johnny Corbett]

Nice one Rod, some nice frosty photos there and blue sky as well.

[hills]

Nice report RM, nice day as well. I enjoyed Mount and Cairnie Hill as well, good short walks, yet to do Normans Law, as its a well known coo hotspot, but have been looking at a route from the North which might avoid. That monument on Mount Hill is something else, just shows how much money rich people threw at follies back in the day..

[The Rodmiester]

Nice report RM, nice day as well. I enjoyed Mount and Cairnie Hill as well, good short walks, yet to do Normans Law, as its a well known coo hotspot, but have been looking at a route from the North which might avoid. That monument on Mount Hill is something else, just shows how much money rich people threw at follies back in the day..

Coo hot spot, not that many though, and nae bother.

[redvark]

Did Mount Hill and Cairnie Hill on Saturday. Mount Hill was a nice easy stroll, except for the abundance of flies. The Cairnie Hill route is obviously one better suited for winter, it was a pig of a route, waist high vegetation and once in the trees I felt about as welcome as an orc in Fangorn Forest ((to use a Tolkeinesque reference), about the only saving grace was the nice views over Lindores Loch on the way down !!

[The Rodmiester]

Did Mount Hill and Cairnie Hill on Saturday. Mount Hill was a nice easy stroll, except for the abundance of flies. The Cairnie Hill route is obviously one better suited for winter, it was a pig of a route, waist high vegetation and once in the trees I felt about as welcome as an orc in Fangorn Forest ((to use a Tolkeinesque reference), about the only saving grace was the nice views over Lindores Loch on the way down !!

Agreed, Cairnie Hill better left for a dry cold frosty morning, and as you say good views from the summit.

[The Rodmiester]

Did Mount Hill and Cairnie Hill on Saturday. Mount Hill was a nice easy stroll, except for the abundance of flies. The Cairnie Hill route is obviously one better suited for winter, it was a pig of a route, waist high vegetation and once in the trees I felt about as welcome as an orc in Fangorn Forest ((to use a Tolkeinesque reference), about the only saving grace was the nice views over Lindores Loch on the way down !!

Agreed, Cairnie Hill better left for a dry cold frosty morning, and as you say good views from the summit.

Much more sensible than my attempt (failed) to do all the Fife Marilyns in a day. Now I am 6 years older, it is probably totally unrealistic, but I can still dream

http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5891

Hi Sgurr, that would have been some effort, nine Marilyns in a day Do you know if anybody has attempted and collected the lot? Thank's for letting me see your report, it's given me some ideas now Love your photo coming off the East Lomond summit, not nice in such conditions.

[Sgurr]

I think it's actually eight, as the Bishop is technically in KInross. No, I don't know if anyone has done them. There's a challenge for you Rodmeister....you might even get TROTM, though I doubt if the judges ever come down to these low elevations. I did think that given less ferocious winds and a less dodgy car we could have picked up the others. There is a very direct way up Dumyat from the "back", Largo Law is simple and Dumglow equally has a short version.