The Hill of Beath, near Cowdenbeath

Summary

The Hill of Beath is the name of a village on the fringes of Cowdenbeath - built on the flanks of the hill of the same name. Although the summit is a lowly 240m and the walk to it extremely short, it's a very fine viewpoint for this part of Fife.

Please read the WARNING below before setting out on this route.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Unmarked; mostly grassy tracks and paths, one steep loose pull. Livestock may be present.

Getting there

Start

Elm Park, Hill of Beath.

Public Transport

Bus stop - Hill of Beath village around 500m from start.

Start Grid Ref

NT146902

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 2km / 1.25 miles
Time: 45 minutes
Ascent: 73m (Profile)

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Explorer 367 - Dunfermline

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

WARNING

The route is currently blocked due to ongoing construction work. It has been reported to us that the diversion (from stage 2) is not signed beyond the first turning. We will revisit when work is complete, but any helpful info / updates that could be included here would be welcome until then.

The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.

Stage 1

The walk begins from the furthest corner of the new housing estate at Hill of Beath - which is not fully shown on Ordnance Survey maps. Drive or walk to Elm Park. There are parking spaces around the estate, and at the start of the walk - but avoid parking in any with a number as they are dedicated to a specific house. Begin the walk from the far top corner of Elm Park; head into the tarmac turning / parking area then bear left through a kissing gate.

Stage 2

The walk begins along a grassy track, with the Hill of Beath well seen ahead. At a fence corner by a large tree ignore the waymarked paths left and continue along the unfenced and faint grassy track ahead.

Stage 3

This soon leads to a farm gate by the woods. The gate may be locked, but there's a stile alongside - cross this and head through the often overgrown field ahead briefly before you can use another stile to rejoin the track. Just beyond it meets a much larger new track; turn right along this uphill. After rounding a bend, leave the track and turn left up briefy but steep loose slope to reach the grassy ridge above. Continue along the open ridge towards the summit of the hill.

Stage 4

There's a trig point on the grassy summit of the Hill of Beath - and often lovely wild flowers in summer. The view is surprisingly extensive for such a modest hill; the Forth Bridges are especially well seen, whilst the motorway - though closeby - doesn't intrude.

Stage 5

Continue along the ridge until a fenceline is ahead - then turn left, descending a little and beginning the walk back by following a grassy mound - like an earthwork - that runs along the side of the hill. Eventually this leads back to the new track - go straight across and then retrace your steps back to the start.

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