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Another Hugh completed for Mrs B today. Up in Fife and after a wet early morning the weather relented so we hit the nearest hill in the book which was Lower Largo.
The hardest part initially was finding the small cut off from Lower to Upper Largo to get to the start. We could see the grassy track going up the hill but the farm we passed had a sign no entry to hill, a debate with the sat nav and the cemetery car park was found.
On the face of it this should have been similar to Knockdolian last week but it is different. Firstly, the walk in is the muddiest, gloopiest farm track that I have walked, real horrible stuff. I suspect the farmer does this deliberately to discourage walkers.
Secondly, the hill is a steeper climb than last week, not tough for anybody fit BUT. The big but is the broad grassy path was extremely muddy and very, very slippy. Combine the steepness with the non existent grip Mrs B found it challenging. Under normal circumstances I would not have considered walking poles but thankfully we took them. Each step at times was plunging them in to anchor you before stepping up.
However to the hill. There is a sign warning dogs on lead at this time of the year, none allowed March - November, as cattle normally on the hill. Thankfully there were none today, just some sheep. Once past the farm track mud continues until you get past the fields containing horses. Weave through some gorse bushes then there is the clear but eroded path up to the first top. Going up the second climb the erosion is not so bad.
Once this has been topped the trig is in sight. A short descent, cross an electrified fence at the broken stile and after another short ascent you are there. In fact every stile we used were badly broken.
Once again the Hugh did not disappoint. Even in these conditions the views all around are excellent particularly on the Forth side, the beaches of Elie and Lundin Links showing well, must be low tide. However, East Lomond can barely be seen, looks like it is still raining over there.
On the slow way down Mrs B did slip, muddy gear but no injuries. 3 guys appeared near the bottom, Polish I think from the brief chat with one of them, no walking gear, training shoes, they were going to have some fun descending.
Not a lot of wildlife today, kestrel hovering up the top. Something flew low and fast but too far away to identify plus a raven doing some fab aerial acrobatics.
50 minutes up and 30 descending, 221 metres of ascent, ready for a coffee and cake somewhere but despite the mud still a good Sunday walk.
