A Visit to Fife: Clatto Hill, Kellie Law, Dalginch Hill, Hill of Beath

 1 September 2020

Participants: Just me

Where: Clatto Hill, 168m/551', P 56m, Tump, OS 59, NO 436157; Kellie Law, 184m, 640', P 

46m,Tump, OS 59, NO 518064; Dalginch Hill, 138m/453', P 41m, Tump, OS 59, NO 311025; and Hill of Beath, 240m/787', P 82m, Tump, OS 58, NT 138901.

I didn't know it at the time but this was to be my last hill walk for a while (see next post). It was a beautiful day and I had planned a route to take in three Tumps in the East Neuk of Fife, starting with Clatto Hill south east of Cupar. There was a narrow road running alongside the east side of the hill and as it was to be a very short walk, I parked at a field entrance just below the start of the track to a mast. As expected, it was a fine viewpoint. The trig with St Andrews in the background.....

Looking west into Fife, Norman's Law is the hill in the background.....

East to Guardbridge and the Eden estuary.....

I then headed south to Kellie Law, which I had hoped to climb from the road to the west, however, there was a herd of young cows in the field which I would have had to go through. So, plan B, round to Carnbee to the east side of the hill where I met the farmer who said that I could park in a field entrance. Good tracks ran from there to the summit, a very pleasant walk and clearly the best approach.....

It was a very fine viewpoint. Looking east.....

West to Largo Law with Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich just visible on the horizon....

Largo Law again.....

South over the Forth to the Pentland Hills.....

The Forth estuary heading round to St Andrews.....

I then headed west, through Leven and Kennoway and towards Markinch. There was a Tump just off the road between the latter two villages and it would have been a shame not to have stopped! Dalginch Hill has a couple of tops of equal height with a trig in the valley between them, although it is really just a field with a couple of bumps in it.

That was to be it for the day. However, as I was driving home and passing close to Hill of Beath, I decided to take the opportunity to climb it also.I parked in the car park for the Dalbeath Marshes nature reserve off the B917 and followed paths towards the hill. Unfortunately, I missed a gate on the left into a field, the route that I should have taken and found myself contouring across a steep bramble and thorn covered slope to get back on track. Looking up (taken from the correct route on the way down).....

This is an isolated hill therefore provides fine views. Looking down to Hill of Beath village from about the half way point.....

The trig, looking to the Ochil Hills.....

The Queensferry crossing and the Forth.....

Dunfermline and the Forth.....

Loch Fitty just in view.....

A great day out.