Three wee Fifers completed the set

Hill: Norman’s Law; Mount Hill; Cairney Hill
Category: All Sub2K
Height: n/a
I was visiting the Kingdom of Fife for a few days with the good lady. Today the good lady opted for an active session touring the shops in St Andrews, always keen to spend her pocket money. Trying hard not to smile too much I thought that this was a fab idea as it allowed me to head for the small hills of Fife and complete my Fife Sub2k’s. It also helped that today was forecast to be the only blue sky day of the trip. Despite it being Friday 13th I braved the traffic and headed to my first hill of the day Norman’s Law.

Norman's Law

Reports for a couple of hills I was completing today said they were mud fests so I used wellies today. Both a good and bad idea.
I started from the quaint village of Luthrie and headed up alongside a working farm whose byres were still full of cattle. There was a surprising and disconcerting notice pinned at the end of one of the byres ‘casualty evacuation point’, is this a battle ground?
It is a straightforward walk until I reached the old farm building which is currently being refurbished and the track is over towards a building where farm and workers vehicles are conveniently parked hiding the signs, deliberate or what?

I reached a point where I had the option of going directly up the hill or to circuit it and come back down the obvious track. I opted for the circuit route and wellies were definitely an asset for plodding through the coo trodden muck. Not a section to slip and fall in!!

A cairn rockpile, a trig and a viewfinder

A short climb winds it way to the top of Norman's Law which surprisingly includes a trig, a cairn and a description board, not bad for a wee hill. It is another ancient hill fort, no wonder with this vista.

Viewfinder looking over to Dundee

The views are superb particularly locally looking down on the Tay estuary and the bridge to Dundee. Further north all the Angus and Perthshire big hills are well covered in snow.

It looks benign but muddy slips coming up

On the descent the wellies get payback, they are old, minimal grip meant a couple of heel slips, pain and muddy clothes along with a few sweary words. You can continue through the field of cows for a slightly longer circuit but as I wanted the three completed today I just backtracked.

Cairney Hill track to the right

Number one done so next it was off to Cairney Hill which is situated beside Lindores Loch, only a short drive away.

The top is in the trees straight ahead

Here a shooting track takes me all the way to the undistinguished top. At least the track is original format of mud and grass and not the modern motorway construction on some estates.

Deer shooting platform

Enclosed at the top alongside the tree line is a shooting platform, obviously not just the pheasants that get blasted here.

Just a couple of minutes later surprisingly for us all, I disturbed a pair of said roe deer, almost coming face to face behind a gorse bush, the wind in my favour. Just as quick they scarper after seeing me.

The stone marks the spot

The top is just as forgettable as the ascent, I head briefly through the undergrowth to find a stone which marks the summit spot. Not a place people would come to unless by accident or bagging

However back to the track and there is decent view of the Fife countryside including the other two hills on today’s trip which are in clear sight.

Back down the same way to enjoy my lunch, a fudge doughnut. Nobody but nobody makes these as good as Fisher & Donaldson. If you have never had one it should be on your bucket list, shops in Cupar & St Andrews. 

Hopetoun monument peeks out of treeline

Now off to the last hill for today, another little Sub2k oddball which has a folly at the top, the Hopetoun monument is Mount Hill‘s claim to fame. It can be seen for miles around.

A straightforward right of way takes you from the farm entrance to the summit. Muddy trail again wellies quids in once again despite slipping and sliding all over, like a fat Bambi on ice!

Nothing too inspirational other than listening to and spotting the birdies in the tree tops until you reach the top. 

The gate is easier than climbing

The folly is surrounded by a very large deer fence, gate padlocked. Some reports say climb it but it is high and loose. A better option is to continue up the bog fest until you reach another gate which this time opens. 

Mount Hill trig

Now you get both the monument and a trig. Why the trig is necessary when it is overshadowed by the huge monument. If you have the money why not.

Back the same way to the car.
Three small hills, an interesting day in good but cold weather. No more Fife hills to bag so time for some real ale. There are plenty of micro breweries around here so looking forward to a good evening.
Another good rambling day but a slight grey cloud as I drive back wondering what damage the credit card has taken?

Wildlife: Coal tit; Blue tit; Great tit; Long tailed tit; Grey squirrel; Roe deer; Blackbird; Buzzard; Robin; Pheasant; Kestrel; Carrion Crow; Yellowhammer; Woodpigeon; Wren; Ladybird (1st this year).
Time: 3.33
Ascent: 589m
Distance: 13.9km