Hills: Clatto Hill (248m), Down Law (241m), Dunicher Law (240m), Drumcarrow Craig (218m), Brotus Hill (216m), Flagstaff Hill (214m), Pepper Knowe (212m), Fleecefaulds Hill (210m), Caskerdo Hill (202m), Colliston Hill (199m), Gathercauld Craig (190m), Walton Hill (188m), Kellie Law (184m), Cassindonald Hill (173m), Clatto Hill North (168m), Balcarres Craig (123m).
The following hills are all classified as Tumps, or Sub-Tumps with Largo Law as their parent Marilyn. Most of them are likely to appeal more to the hill enthusiast rather than the casual walker. Access is not always straightforward and may entail crossing farmland / working countryside and negotiating fences, locked gates and gorse bushes. Ensure your actions are in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Not all of these hills may be appropriate for dogs.
Map
Clatto Hill (248m)
This hill is best ascended from the route of the Fife Pilgrim Way between Kennoway and Clatto Reservoir. Alternatively, it can be reached from the public road to the west via the access road to Clatto Farm. There is room to park at NO 347 076 if approaching from this side. The hill summit and trig point can be reached by a short rough ascent through the forest from the FPW. Don’t be expecting any views from the top – it’s completely surrounded by forestry.
Down Law (241m)
Now a communications site, Down Law was the site of a hill fort many moons ago. Its summit is easily attainable and it affords some good views of the surrounding farmland and the Forth. From the road use the access track for the masts and a gateway to reach the grassy summit south of the masts. For an alternative return, descend west and then north to reach an openable gate into a field at NO 340 072. Keep to the field edge in a northerly direction to reach a track at Downfield Cottages from where you can walk out to the road. Parking is possible at NO 347 076.
Dunicher Law (240m)
Can be approached from either the west or the east.
The west approach is a very short route from the gate at NO 446 084 near Falfield. A tarmac road heads into the woods and up the hill (keep right at a junction) to reach a Scottish Water site. Walk around the outside of the compound (the left is probably easiest) to reach the mound of rubble that is the summit of the hill. Note that there is a sign on the gate that says “no access”, however under the Scottish outdoor access legislation this is probably not legal.
From the east, start from Bow Bridge where there is a gate at NO 459 083 giving access to woodland. This area is somewhat overgrown but don’t despair it’s not all like that. Walk alongside the hedge to reach the electricity pole line and follow the line west on a rough path through pleasant young woodland. The path rapidly becomes a proper track. Keep left at two junctions and follow the track to the Scottish Water compound and hence the summit. Note: the woodlands are used for pheasant rearing / shooting so probably best to give this route a miss during the shooting season. Safest parking for this route is a layby at NO 463 078.
Drumcarrow Craig (218m)
This wee hill makes a worthwhile addition to a walk along the Fife Pilgrim Way.
A signposted track from NO 460 129 provides an easy means of access although it is necessary to squeeze around a gate. The summit is lumpy and bumpy and worth exploring. There is a cairn and trig pillar at the highest point and the site of the Drumcarrow Broch can be seen. Watch out for an electrified fence in the summit area. It is fortunately, easy to crawl underneath it. As well as the main summit there is also the western top which is easy to reach.
As well as the FPW, Drumcarrow Craig also combines well with a walk around nearby Cameron Reservoir, along with the option of including Denork hill fort site.
Brotus Hill (216.3m)
This wee hill (a Sub-Tump) is the high point of a field on the edge of the Howe of Fife. The easiest access is along the farm track to Brotus from Upper Bunzion close to Cults. The first part of this track is core path, but keep left on the main track heading west. Before reaching the house there is a gate on the right hand side allowing easy access into a field. Respect the privacy of the residents and do not walk into the grounds of the house. Go through the gate and cross the field to its western side. Another gate takes you into the field with the high point. An alternative route is possible from Claybriggs to the north. Follow a field track and then cross fields to approach from the west. If there are crops growing in the field come back after they have been harvested. There is no access to the high point without walking into the field.
Flagstaff Hill (214m) / Balcarres Craig (123m)
The quickest route to Flagstaff Hill is from the corner of the road at NO 445 051, along a track to a communications mast and then across (around the edges) of a field to reach the summit mound. Parking may be difficult at this spot though.
An alternative for a longer walk is to start at Colinsburgh and walk through the Balcarres Estate past Spratty Hall and Rires. After Rires the track enters woodland and turns right to reach a field gate. Go through the gate and follow the edge of the field (livestock may be present) to reach a well-placed gate giving access to the rough ground at the summit. An alternative return is possible using a rough path through Long Strip (hard to follow in places). Turn right at a power line on to a more obvious path that takes you back to the Rires track. A diversion on your return route can be made to visit the folly on Balcarres Craig. The estate requests that dogs be kept on a lead.
Pepper Knowe (212m)
This is an easy ascent from Largoward. The initial approach is along the tarmac Cadgers Road to South Cassingray. Turn right towards South Cassingray to reach a gate before the first house. Go through the gate and either follow the left-hand side of the fence or go through a further gate and use the steps on the right-hand side to reach the summit area marked with a trig point. Livestock may be in the fields so probably best to avoid taking dogs.
Fleecefaulds Hill (212m)
An early 2021 detailed analysis relocated the summit of this hill to its current position at NO 40490 08705 close to Fleecefaulds Nature Reserve. To access the summit it is probably easiest to park at the small parking area for the nature reserve and walk up the road to reach the track to Hall Teases. Where the track opens out there is a rough path up into the woods. The summit lies to the right (south west) of this path in an overgrown area of the woods. The summit itself is pretty much indiscernible especially in the summer months.
Caskerdo Hill (202m)
This hill can also be accessed from Fleecefaulds Nature Reserve. Enter the reserve through a pedestrian gate and keep left on high ground to reach a second gate in a corner next to woodland. Go through the gate and follow the field edge south with the woods to your right to reach the southern corner of the woods. From here there is easy access onto a rough track south through the woods to a metal gate that needs to be climbed. Follow the edge of the next field and climb an old wooden gate at NO 400 075 into a strip of woodland. A feint path heads west through the woods for about 800m to the vicinity of Caskerdo Hill. The actual summit is to your left and surrounded by a barb wire fence from this direction. However, the barb wire is missing from sections on the western side which provides easy access over the fence to the 202m summit.
The shortest way back to the road is to return to the forest corner at NO 399 079 and turn right instead of left. After about 50m re-enter the woods on your right and look for a feint path. If you can’t find it head in a north east direction through the woods to reach a gate (needs to be climbed) out to the road at NO 402 080.
Colliston Hill (199.3m)
Like it’s neighbour, Clatto Hill, this wee hill is easy to access from the Fife Pilgrim Way. Leave the Pilgrim Way in Devon Wood at NO 3579 0559. Head northeast on a forest track which can be wet at times. Follow the track round to the right. Circle around the hill on mountain bike trails to reach its eastern side. From here it is an easy ascent to its beech clad summit.
Gathercauld Craig (190m)
This wooded hill between New Gilston and Ceres is a bit more awkward than it looks on the map. Access to the woods is very straightforward along a surfaced track which leaves the public road at NO 420 096 opposite Gathercauld Farm buildings. On reaching the woods, to avoid having to negotiate the double strand barb wire fence, follow the track round to the east of the hillock through the double gates. An openable gate can then be used to access the woods. The terrain in the woods is rough and rather hard work hampered by fallen trees. In the Summer months bracken is also likely to hinder progress. As an alternative to reduce the amount of walking through the woods, it should be possible to cross the fence at NO 424 097 and head straight up the hill. There is a small pile of stones on the most likely candidate for the summit.
Walton Hill (188m)
This unremarkable hill sits next to Lady Mary’s Wood near Springfield where the tomb of the eccentric Lady Mary (of nearby Crawford Priory) can be found. Access into and through the woods is easy enough via tracks from roads at NO 352 107 and NO 353 100. There is a track and rough paths through the woods leading to a gate at NO 3583 102. From here it is a walk around the field edge with a barb wire fence to be negotiated in the northern corner. A gate at NO 361 103 provides access to the final field. If crops are growing in the fields take care not to walk on them.
Kellie Law (184m)
This wee hill makes a fine viewpoint over the surrounding agricultural land of the East Neuk. It is an obvious high point in the otherwise flat countryside. It can be accessed easily either from the south or the east.
The shortest approach is from Carnbee to the east where a track heads up the hill opposite the farm. The track makes its way through the coll between Kellie Law and Carnbee Law (also worth a wee visit). From here a grass path heads directly up the eastern slop of Kellie Law.
The southern approach starts from the minor road at NO 522 057 where a farm track makes its way towards the hill and around its western slope from where it then ascends the hill.
There is limited parking in the area for either approach. If parking on the verge, remember to leave plenty of space for emergency and wide farm vehicles. There is parking for a couple of cars at Gillingshill Nature Reserve about 30min walk away. The nature reserve is well worth exploring in its own right.
Cassindonald Hill (173m)
This Sub-Tump hill is a high point in woodland/farmland close to Cassindonald Moss SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Use the farm track to Cassindonald Farm. At point NO 4631 1247, a track leads east across a field. Do not walk over crops if the track has been planted, walk around the edge of the field. This track reaches a gate into the woods. Walk around the outside edge of the woods turning south along the edge of a field. The 172m spot height on the OS maps is at the southeast corner of the woods. However, the highest point at 173m lies within the woods themselves approx 40m to the west.
Clatto Hill, North (168m)
This wee hill has a much more open outlook and easier to reach summit than its namesake further south. From north-east of Blebocraigs, access is easy via a short stretch of grass track to service a reservoir compound at the summit area. An OS trig pillar is located very close to the summit.
Pilmuir Knock (100m)
A pleasant wooded summit, this hill is relatively easy to access. Leave the minor road at NO 39375 04311 through a field entrance across initially rough ground which soon becomes a more defined track. If the fields have been planted, stick to the edges. Follow the track into the woods and then pick up rough woodland paths to reach the summit area.
Fife Walking 