This superb walk climbs up the steep slopes behind the RSPB's Vane Farm visitor centre to reach the summit of Benarty Hill. There are truly stunning views over Loch Leven, its surrounding hills and islands. The return is varied by coming down over Vane Hill.
Bog Factor
Clear hill paths, steep in places, steps on descent.
Vane Farm RSPB car park.
None to start. .
NT159989
The walk begins from the Vane Farm RSPB car park; there is a charge (free to RSPB members). Begin the walk by heading through the visitor centre buildings to reach the picnic tables beyond. It is possible to visit the main reserve and bird hides (and link with the Loch Leven Heritage Trail) via an underpass, but our route turns right behind the buildings, passing picnic tables. Keep straight ahead at the info board, passing the wooden sculptures - the route is signed as the Sleeping Giants Path for the first section.
Ignore a path off left (used on the return) and follow the Sleeping Giants Path as it swings right. The path links Vane Farm with the Loch Ore Meadows Country Park which is down the other side of the hill. There are a couple of seats as the path rises and then falls gently, before the ascent begins in earnest as the path climbs a series of sharp zig-zags. The views improve all the time.
The path passes beneath pylons and heads east, passing a large sign indicating the edge of the RSPB reserve. Keep right on the main path here, passing through a kissing gate. The surface becomes a little rougher now, as the path swings right and climbs gently beside a fence, towards an escarpment of broken rocks - the Sleeping Giants.
The path swings left below the Sleeping Giants, still keeping a fence on your left. It undulates, eventually climbing to pass through a pedestrian gate. There are views ahead to Loch Ore. Continue along the path until a second pedestrian gate, by the trees. Do not pass through this, instead leaving the Sleeping Giants path here and turning right beside the boulders to follow a clear earth path that climbs through the trees.
When the path forks, take the right-hand earth path, ignoring the grassy trod continuing ahead. The path descends very slightly to pass through a gate by some old Scots Pines, then bears left, keeping the wall on your right hand side, for the long but steady climb towards the summit of Benarty Hill. There are stunning views over Loch Leven throughout on this stretch.
Continue to reach the highest point, marked by a trig point; the best view is a little nearer the edge, overlooking the wide expanse of Loch Leven, with Bishop Hill to the east.
For the return route, retrace your steps all the way back to the RSPB reserve sign mentioned in Stage 3. To vary the route from here, turn right immediately in front of the sign to follow a narrow but clear path running through the heather. This eventually passes under the pylons, then bears left alongside a stone wall.
The path climbs very slightly to reach the summit of Vane Hill, where there are seats for enjoying the stunning view over Loch Leven and St Serf's Island. From here take the path to the right, descending with a fence on your right. The route down has many steps. At a signed path junction, turn right to continue along the Birchwood Loop. There are more steps before the path eventually returns to the outward route just above the picnic area. Bear right to retrace your steps back to the start. There is a cafe in the visitor centre.
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