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Largo Law - Finishing the Kingdom Subs

Largo Law - Finishing the Kingdom Subs


Postby inca » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:13 am

Route description: Largo Law, from Upper Largo

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Largo Law

Date walked: 18/02/2018

Time taken: 1 hours

Distance: 3 km

Ascent: 222m

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Map: OS 1:50,000, no. 59
Attendees: Me, Big Dog, Small Dog
Time taken: 1hr

I’d been shying away from Largo Law. Probably because information about access with dogs sounded so proscriptive. No access between March and November? Each year? Every year? Eh? I can’t imagine walking without my two these days, so I told myself it could wait. I’d add Largo to a longer hill day. Probably in the east, probably on the way home, and certainly in the 3 months the red card for dogs didn’t apply. That opportunity hadn’t presented itself.

Mid-February and the access window was closing again. I’d woken early on a Sunday morning with no particular plans. The weather forecast wasn’t great. But I opened the curtains to clearing night skies and a promising day. I’m not a natural carpe diem kind of guy. I surprised myself with a hasty decision to head for Largo. 15 minutes later, I’d printed the route, looked out my map, packed my gear, woken mrs inca to let her know my plans (that went well) and shoved two sleepy dogs into the car. Mine was the only vehicle on the Queensferry Crossing. Sunrise cast an amber glow on the Rail Bridge and the Forth looked mercury silver below. I was pleased with myself. I’d been rash, impulsive even. It wasn’t like me. I tooted my horn a few times to celebrate. There was a Devil May Care flourish to the last peep. It was silly. And satisfying at the same time.

The drive to Upper Largo was painless. I followed a fingerpost sign to the cemetery car park. The plug of Largo Law squatted behind, a well-worn path etched into its southern slope. It looked closer than I’d expected. I dithered for a few minutes. Should I take my rucksack or not? I knew it’d be a short walk. There seemed little point. On the other hand, I’d been trying to improve my hill fitness. I reasoned taking it would offer more of a workout.

Parking and start point
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

Information sign
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

Largo Law from farm track
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

Getting the dogs ready, I noticed a man approaching along the edge of a field beside the Chesterstone farm track. We passed each other and exchanged pleasantries. With no other vehicles in the car park, I assumed he was local. The reason he’d avoided that section of the track soon became obvious: it was a mudbath.

Taking the same detour he’d done, I rejoined the track a little further on. It passed a cottage where a man was barking orders at a horse. Directional signs led me on to the rear of Chesterstone Farm, and shortly afterward, the base of the hill. The farm itself struck me as remotely managed. The barns contained agricultural machinery, yet the only houses I could see looked to be holiday lets.

It was a steep, relatively short, climb to arrive at the southern top. One advantage of tackling the hill at the end of a harsh winter was that ground conditions were firm. Even on the eroded path. I did stop to catch my breath once or twice, but I didn’t encounter the same slip hazard I’d read about elsewhere.

Largo summit from south top
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

South top looking back towards Upper Largo and Largo Bay
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

I could see the trig point on the northern top and dropped down to the fence below it. I’d read desmondo1’s 2017 report on the hill so I was aware of:

a) the possibility of wooden stile being broken – it was; and
b) an electric fence – still in situ but covered with foam at stile.

The fence was low enough to be crossed easily and I was at the summit. Weather wise, the day hadn’t quite lived up to its early promise. Still, the views were decent enough. Particularly west towards the Lomond hills.

Looking east from Largo trig
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

West from Largo trig
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

Zoom towards East Lomond
ImageUntitled by NDM, on Flickr

There was a chill in the air that deterred hanging around and I retraced my steps to the car. I was cautious dropping down the path. The firmness of the ground had been an advantage on the way up. It was less so on the way down. It’d be a sore surface to take a tumble on. It was only when I was driving back to Edinburgh I remembered it – Largo Law was the last of my Fife Sub 2ks. Some I’d enjoyed very much. Others less so. Largo? A punchy little hill I’d rate somewhere in the middle.
User avatar
inca
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 314
Munros:225   Corbetts:71
Fionas:82   Donalds:89+41
Sub 2000:198   
Joined: Sep 21, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

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