Monday 22 February 2016 Benarty Hill 356m - Marilyn NT153979

It's only eleven miles away in the Kingdom of Fife overlooking Loch Leven, but our boots had never trod its summit.  It was time to cross the border and put that right.

Only one car was present in the small car parking area on the south side of the hill but unlike when Gayle and Mick were here it was not covered in litter.  A pleasant climb through woods, where much storm damage was evident, brought us to more open ground and views of the snow-capped Ochils.

 Shortly after, open heather-clad moorland gave a lovely wander to the summit (not this bump).

The views were extensive in all directions with the Bass Rock and North Berwick Law visible to the south while eastwards lay another Marilyn, Largo Law, climbed some years ago. Below lay Loch Leven with its islands; on one is Loch Leven Castle, which held Mary Queen of Scots prisoner in 1567.

Loch Leven and Bishop Hill

A brief stop and then onwards to the western end of the hill to find the fort.

A view back with small dolerite cliffs visible. Routes up to E4 I think

I've never heard anyone speak ill of this little hill and I'm not surprised. It's delight all the way.

It all felt very spring-like with warm sunshine and bird song but subsequent days on higher hills reminded us that winter is still with us.

Lomonds

This confident little soul came right over to the car as we were putting on our boots. He got some home-made ginger bread

Heading to East Lomond Hill

Being two posts behind I've decided to add this now - maybe updated at home later.

Anyway we are on East Lomond in reasonable weather and heading for West Lomond in a few mins.

Largo Law stands out clear to the east while to the north and west all is dark.

The two Lomond Hiills are easily visible from Glas Maol etc but today the opposite is not the case.



Sent from my BlackBerry®

A day in The Lomonds and The Well at Scotlandwell

This is a fine little group of hills and it was time for a visit. Only a 15 minute drive from home, West and East Lomond and Bishop Hill rise above Loch Leven in Kinross-shire to 522m, 424m and c457m respectively and we were heading for the southernmost, Bishop Hill.

Loch Leven

It was pleasant walking in the warm sunshine, but a cold wind soon reminded that spring was firmly trapped on the lower slopes. Someone had been post-holing, probably the day before when the snow was soft, and we followed the thigh-deep holes until the hardening surface allowed us to escape them and choose our own line. The area is popular with hang-gliders and para-gliders; fixed-wing gliders are catapulted into the air above Loch Leven from nearby Portmoak airfield and we watched several thrust skyward before noticing a para-glider drifting above us.

Para-gliding above Bishop Hill

We crossed the wind-scoured undulating plateaux towards the top of Bishop Hill, our plan being to re-aquaint ourselves with 13m Carlin Maggie, turned to stone for challenging the Devil's authority.

 Towards Bishop Hill, centre

  

Carlin Maggie 

Lynne wanted to have a look at the 'Well' at Scotlandwell, so foregoing a descent into the Covenanter's Glen and a climb to West Lomond Hill, we retraced our steps for tea in the spring sunshine and a short walk to the village.

The Well at Scotlandwell

A Drinking Cup remains for those who feel in need of a cure.