The Lomond Hills of Fife

I climbed West Lomond Hill, the highest point in Fife. The day was blowy and cold, and I had a bit of a late start so I only did the West Hill which is the higher of the two. Starting from the Craigmead carpark, the walk up the West hill is about 4 1/2 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 656 feet. The walk up East Lomond hill is about half the distance gaining half the elevation. The path I took to the top (straight up the east side) is clearly visible if you click on the photo.

This shot shows the summit marker. Walking there I passed a very serious woman walking alone. She was dressed head to toe in a red Gortex suit and using a pair of ski poles for balance. She looked to be training for an expedition to Greenland. I asked he about the trail to the top up the east side and she told me that which ever way I wanted to go was my choice and that there were many trails. She volunteered that she'd already been to the top and was taking a different one round the south side. When I arrived at the summit the wind must have been gusting to 50 mph; I was almost blown over trying to take a few photos. There was a woman with about eight lightly clad children hunkered down in the rocks nearby. On my way down, I passed a few more people who all commented what a nice day it was.

The town just below the hills is Falkland, which was mobbed with walkers dressed to the nines for hiking wearing rain jackets and hiking boots, with many wearing breeks and carrying walking sticks or ski poles. The town itself is magnificent with beautiful stone houses, an old castle and a church and with streets barely wide enough for a single car to pass.

The hills are visible from many parts of Fife and I have used them for navigating while driving. In the panorama below you can just make out (on the right side) the Firth of Forth and (on the left) the Firth of Tay.