{"id":26651,"date":"2023-05-09T13:36:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T11:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?p=26651&preview=true&preview_id=26651"},"modified":"2023-05-10T11:16:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T09:16:55","slug":"16-fife-west-lomond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2023\/05\/09\/16-fife-west-lomond\/","title":{"rendered":"16. Fife, West Lomond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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SCOTLAND<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

16. FIFE, WEST LOMOND<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Distance: 5.7 miles\/9.2km | Time: 4 hours | Grade: Challenging | Total ascent: 432m
For more walks and days out visit countryfile.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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Looking over heather-clad moorland towards West Lomond hill, the highest point in Fife <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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Walked by Vivienne Crow <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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West Lomond is Fife\u2019s highest point. At just 522m, it\u2019s a tiddler by Scottish standards, but with nothing else of similar stature for miles around, standing on this volcanic plug feels like standing atop a much mightier mountain, and offers incredible views. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

To the south-east, the distinctive Bass Rock sits out in the Firth of Forth; to the west are the Ochil Hills; further north, wistful outlines of Highland peaks are visible. Add in fascinating geological features, some history and a touch of folklore, and you have got all the ingredients for a great walk. <\/p>\n\n

1. START <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Walk north-east along the road for one mile, as far as Bunnet Stane parking. <\/p>\n\n

2. 1 MILE <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Take the grassy track immediately after the layby and then make for the sandstone formations in the field ahead. The Bunnet Stane is suspended above the main outcrop on a slender pedestal in mushroom-like fashion.<\/p>\n\n

Beneath it is a manmade cave, once a shepherds\u2019 bothy, although local legend tells a more fanciful story involving star-crossed teenage lovers, an angry father and a murder. <\/p>\n\n

Whichever is true, our route continues to the field\u2019s south-east corner, then follows the field boundary uphill. <\/p>\n\n

3. 2 MILES <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

At the fence corner, a rough path heads left. An old, surprisingly broad path soon finds a weak spot in West Lomond\u2019s defences, climbing across a grassy bowl in the otherwise steep scarp. Keep to the clearest path.<\/p>\n\n

4. 2.5 MILES <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

On reaching a clearer path, turn right. Keep left as this curves around the western side of the hill to reach the trig pillar and prehistoric burial cairn on the summit. <\/p>\n\n

As well as the distant views, you are now looking across the moorland to West Lomond\u2019s imaginatively named twin, East Lomond. <\/p>\n\n

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5. 3 MILES <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Take the trail dropping south-west. After a stile, continue in the same direction for 350 yards \u2013 across one area of bare ground. At a second area devoid of vegetation, head roughly south to join a path through the heather. <\/p>\n\n

6. 3.8 MILES <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Turn right at the Glen Vale path. On the burn\u2019s far side, the elements have created a cave and carved the sandstone into a natural amphitheatre, known as John Knox\u2019s Pulpit.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s not known whether the famous Protestant reformer himself preached here, but 17th-century covenanters definitely used the site for performing clandestine religious services. <\/p>\n\n

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John Knox\u2019s Pulpit, a sandstone amphitheatre <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

7. 4.3 MILES <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

After \u00bd mile, bear right to cross the burn. Continue downstream, later passing through woodland sporting the youthful green of early summer. Turning right at the road, the car park is on the right in 280 yards. <\/p>\n\n

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USEFUL INFO <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Starting point <\/strong>
Glen Vale car park, Dryside Road, Fife, KY14 7RP, 3\u00bd miles south-west of Strathmiglo. No public transport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terrain <\/strong>
Mostly good paths on open hill, but briefly pathless. Some stiles. Short road section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Map <\/strong>
OS Explorer 370 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat\/drink <\/strong>
Campbell\u2019s Coffee House and Eatery in Falkland, about seven miles from walk\u2019s start point. 01337 858 738. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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In association with<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

West Lomond is Fife\u2019s highest point. At just 522m, it\u2019s a tiddler by Scottish standards, but with nothing else of similar stature for miles around, standing on this volcanic plug feels like standing atop a much mightier mountain, and offers incredible views. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9135,"featured_media":26900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"","purple_seq_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"","purple_source_article":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"","purple_source_issue":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"Special-2023","purple_external_id":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"Special-2023-2c83f8d6-d7ec-429f-9dfa-deb656c53a1c","purple_issue_code":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084069||","purple_android_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_ios_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.203","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2023-05-04T16:51:29Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"f3a0a9ed-d76d-4a38-bcf9-fec167eebde1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2023-05-05T07:02:50Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A86Cp7ddtSji8-f7BZ-694Q","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[135],"tags":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Katie.Hood@ourmedia.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/katie-hoodourmedia-co-uk\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png",618,350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond-300x170.png",300,170,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png",618,350,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png",618,350,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png",618,350,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/05\/west-lomond.png",618,350,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Katie.Hood@ourmedia.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/katie-hoodourmedia-co-uk\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"West Lomond is Fife\u2019s highest point. At just 522m, it\u2019s a tiddler by Scottish standards, but with nothing else of similar stature for miles around, standing on this volcanic plug feels like standing atop a much mightier mountain, and offers incredible views.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26651"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26651"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27007,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26651\/revisions\/27007"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}