Hills: Ormiston Hill (236m), Black Hill (213m), Cowden Hill (204m), Woodheads Hill (196m)

These hills form a compact group of upland between Newburgh and Auchtermuchty. They can be walked individually or combined with each other for a longer outing. Further routes can be created by linking with Cairnie Hill and Lindores Hill.

Ormiston Hill, Black Hill and Cowden Hill all have over 100m of prominence thus gaining them the hill classication of Hump (Hundred metres and upward prominence). Woodheads Hill doesn’t make it into this category, instead being categorised as a Tump (Thirty metre and upward prominence).

Route Map

Map of walking routes for Black Hill, Ormiston Hill, Cowden Hill and Woodheads Hill (Grange Hill) in North Fife.

Ormiston Hill (Black Cairn Hill) (236m)

Once the site of an ancient hillfort, these days the summit of this hill above Newburgh is well protected by gorse bushes. There is, however, a trodden path through the vegetation provided you approach from the right direction.

The circular route suggested below ascends the north side from Banklands and descends to Ormiston. A core path is then used to walk back to Newburgh completing the circuit.

  • Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
  • Ascent: 280 m / 900 feet
  • Terrain: grassy hillside, muddy paths/tracks
  • Start / finish: Banklands, Newburgh (KY14 6DN). Grid reference NO 229 178

From the corner of Banklands there is a tarmac track uphill to a reservoir where a gate on the left provides access to a somewhat overgrown path. Keep on the path until after the 3rd gate (a double gate setup with both an old and new gate). When the path splits, go right up hill through gorse which gives way to open hillside where livestock may be encountered. Head up the hill with a wall / fence to your right. A gate which is awkward to open is reached after which aim for the stile at grid ref NO 234 172. Cross the stile and go through a pedestrian gate onto a trodden path. The path provides an easy means of negotiating the thick gorse to reach the summit cairn.

Return to the stile after which aim roughly eastwards to a small coll. Descend the grassy hillside in a south east direction picking up an obvious path / track down to a gate. Go through the left-hand gate using a path to cross the next field to reach a stand of trees on the far side. A gate leads to a wide and somewhat muddy track where you turn left (north), before reaching Ormiston. Keep to the path until you approach the quarry where a wooden pedestrian gate on your left provides access to a grass path that circumnavigates the quarry. The path is easy to follow as it skirts around the quarry to reach the north side.

The path splits at a bench with a purple arrow marker. The right-hand option heads up to a viewpoint with a picnic table and is worth a detour. The left-hand option turns north west through gorse to reach another marker. For Banklands keep left or for Monkswell Road turn right.

NB: In Autumn 2019 blasting times at the quarry were advised as being Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 1pm and 2pm.

Black Hill (213m)

From B936

The shortest route of ascent to Black Hill starts from the B936 at NO 241 147 but there are limited parking options.  From here a forest track takes the walker directly to an obvious clearing / turning circle at NO 246 149. A newish bulldozed track now goes up from this clearing almost directly to the summit. The summit itself is not marked in any way.

From Woodheads

Another relatively short route is by using the farm track up the eastern flank of the hill. The track starts from a large gate at NO 258 153 on the unclassified road between Golden Loch and Black Loch. Once up the hill, the track turns right at a junction and heads west towards Black Hill. Access into the forest can be achieved via a field edge followed by squeezing through a gate. Go left alongside the forest edge for 100m until a rough path turns westwards into the woods. At NO 253 149 the path splits with the left option heading uphill through a firebreak to reach a gate in the corner of the woods at NO 251 149 which must be climbed. Paths through these woods are becoming increasingly difficult to follow which is not helped by fallen trees. Once over the gate, follow the field edge south west and find a place where the fence can easily be crossed (it is broken in a number of places). Continue alongside the fence to reach the start of a forest track at NO 250 146. From here there is a surfaced track to a turning circle at 246 149 from where a muddy bulldozed track can be used to reach the summit area.

The return route can be varied slightly by using the obvious grassy fire break with the pipeline signs from the turning area. At the first track junction keep left following the pipeline signs. After 200m bear left away from the route of the pipeline on a less distinct track which will wind its way slightly uphill back to the fence on the southeast side of the forest.

Via Golden Hill

A longer but more scenic route is possible from Grange of Lindores. The route starts behind the farm at The Paddocks where a track provides easy access up Golden Hill to a communications mast and a signed viewpoint. After the viewpoint use the left hand gate and field edges to reach a firebreak in the forest at NO 253 154. Climb the fence and 50m along the firebreak go right on a trodden path into the trees. Take the right hand (less obvious option) at the path split. The paths in this area are becoming somewhat indistinct and fallen trees do not help. Some careful navigation may be required. After 500m the path splits again. Take the more obvious right fork uphill through a firebreak to reach a gate which must be climbed. Once over the gate, follow the field edge south west and find a place where the fence can easily be crossed (it is broken in a number of places). Continue alongside the fence to reach the start of a forest track at NO 250 146. From here there is a surfaced track to a turning circle at NO 246 149 from where a muddy bulldozed track can be used to reach the summit area.

The return route can be varied slightly by using the obvious grassy fire break with the pipeline signs from the turning area. At the first track junction keep left following the pipeline signs. After 200m bear left away from the route of the pipeline on a less distinct track which will wind its way slightly uphill back to the fence on the southeast side of the forest.

If you are heading to Woodheads Hill (Grange Hill) after Black Hill you may be tempted to short cut across the fields. This is certainly possible (though be careful to stick to field edges if crops are growing) but be prepared to negotiate barbwire fences.

Cowden Hill (204m)

From Woodmill Farm

Cowden Hill is probably best ascended form the track at NO 269 144 near to Woodmill Farm. This track provides the walker with an easy ascent up the southern side of Cowden Hill with no difficulties. Once at the summit area you will need to leave the track and walk through the long grass for about 70m to reach the actual summit cairn. From here there are good views of the surrounding hills and countryside.

From Abdie Old Kirk

The hill can also be ascended from its eastern side using the core path between Woodmill Mains and Abdie Old Kirk (P211/11) for access. Leave the path at NO 270 154 heading uphill along a field edge with the trees on your right. The edge of the field/trees veers first left and then right to reach a gate. After passing through the gate follow a quad bike track uphill (either track will do), initially through trees and then open hillside to reach the coll north of the hill summit. Ascend the steep grass slope to pass through a gateway on to the track which passes close to the summit cairn.

Circular route

  • Distance: 6.3 km / 3.9 miles
  • Ascent: 200 m / 650 feet
  • Terrain: Quiet road, farm track, unsurfaced paths
  • Start / finish: Layby at NO 257 160 close to Berryhill Farm or Abdie Parish Church

Start from the layby close to Berryhill Farm (additional parking is also available at Abdie Parish Church) and walk down the quiet tarmac road passing the Golden Loch and Black Loch. Ascend the hill using the track that starts at the roadside just before reaching Woodmill Farm (NO 269 144). This track provides an easy route of access almost directly to the summit. The summit cairn itself is located slightly off the track to the east.

Continue on the track until it loops back on itself at which point continue northward (ish) down a steep grass slope to the coll. A grassy ATV track starts from here and can be followed downhill in an easterly direction. The track enters a woodland area and terminates at the edge of a field. Follow the field edge (trees to your left) to reach a path and turn left.

Follow this path, which is the core path (P206/01) from Woodmill to Grange of Lindores, as it circles the northeast side of the hill. There are a few purple arrow waymark posts from time to time along the route. As Abdie Old Kirk is approached, the path turns left through a gate back and crosses a field back to the public road. However, it is worth making a short detour to the ruins of Abdie Old Kirk and the Lindores Stone first.

Woodheads Hill / Grange Hill (196m)

Unlike the previous three hill Woodheads is not classified as a Hump (Hundred metre and upwards prominence) and neither does it exceed the 200m mark. On the Database of British and Irish Hills it is listed as Woodheads Hill although the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar at its summit is referred to as Grange Hill and the name Grange Hill appears on larger scale Ordnance Survey maps. The summit is clad in conifers and as such does not afford any views but it is still worth a visit nevertheless.

An easy route of access is by using the farm track up the northern shoulder of the hill (the same route used for Black Hill). The track starts from a large gate at NO 258 153 on the unclassified road between Golden Loch and Black Loch. Once up the hill, keep the wooded hill on your left and look for a purple core path marker post pointing into the trees. Follow this marker to meet a broad forest track and turn right onto the track. Follow this track, initially parallel to the field edge but later bearing left into the forest, until an obvious track junction is reached. Keep straight on (left) and almost immediately go left at another junction. The track now makes its way around the northwest side of the hill. At the high point of the track, branch off to your right up the hill through the trees. You may be lucky and find a feint trodden path but if not just make your own way up to the summit. The trig pillar is somewhat hidden in the trees and vegetation.

An alternative route of access would be to walk in on the core path from Lumquhat (P309/01) past the Red Myre. A variation for the return walk is possible via Weddersbie Den.

You may also be interested in the following hills which can be linked with the above routes: