Dumyat

Dumyat: the wee lump at the western end of the Ochils. A great wee hill with two tops: the 419m summit of Dumyat itself and the lower 374m Castle Law site of the ancient hill fort which gives Dumyat its name. The main summit is crowned with a fire basket (a beacon for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee), memorial to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and a white painted trig point. However, this is not the actual highest point as slightly north west of the cairn are some rocks which are slightly higher. The Castle Law summit boasts two cairns.

The most popular route to the summit is along the “motorway” from the Sherriffmuir Road. However, this route is extremely busy and has very little going for it (unless you are taking young children with you). Various alternatives are possible and many of these are described below.

All routes start from the Blairlogie or Menstrie areas. It is easy to mix and match the routes to create your own circular walk. The Menstrie Scout Hall and Blairlogie Meadows start points are linked by the Dumyat Farm Track / Diamond Jubilee Path and the Logie Kirk and Blairlogie Meadows starts are linked by the Diamond Jubilee Path. The two Menstrie start points are very close to each other.

Starting points:

Logie Kirk car park (free), Blairlogie, FK9 4LB
Blairlogie Meadows car park (free) on the A91 to the east of Blairlogie (grid ref NS 831 966).
Upland Blairlogie path from Menstrie Scout Hall (on street parking), Ochil Road, Menstrie FK11 7BW.
Pony track from Menstrie Scout Hall (on street parking), Ochil Road, Menstrie FK11 7BW.

Facilities: parking as described above, bus service along the Hillfoots to Blairlogie and Menstrie, refreshments at Blairmains Farm Shop.

Route Map

Route 1 Logie Kirk

A straightforward route on obvious paths through woodland to reach the open hill.

Start: Logie Kirk
Distance: 3.8 km / 2.4 miles
Ascent: 400 m / 1300 feet
Terrain: paths both surfaced and unsurfaced

From Logie Kirk car park follow the marker post for the Diamond Jubilee Way around the church yard. When you reach the first pylon, stay on the path that goes up the hill parallel to the pylon line. The path soon enters woodland / scrub and is easy to follow. When it bears right and crosses under the pylon line, head up the hill in to the trees on a steep path to your right. When you reach the path junction keep straight on in a south westerly direction through woodland with bluebells, rhododendrons and gorse. This path will bring you round the front of the hill to reach a good viewpoint. However, there are also other paths through these woods which could be used as well. After the viewpoint the path turns more northerly and brings you to an old gate/stile on the edge of the woods.

Cross the stile on to the open hill where there is an obvious path heading west. However, take a few moments to make a detour on a grassy path to your right to reach a viewpoint with a convenient bench. Return to the path and follow it across the hill until it joins the “Sherriffmuir motorway” above the Blairlogie Glen. Now follow this recently upgraded path (and lots of other people) towards the summit.

After passing through a gate on the path, turn right on to a grassy path with a fence to your right. Follow this path to reach the subsidiary summit of Castle Law with its twin cairns. Either return from Castle Law to the “motorway” path the way you came or use one of the other paths that cut across the rather wet ground around here to reach the “motorway” nearer the summit. The summit is now easily attained by following the path.

Route 2 Blairlogie Glen

A straightforward route up a wooded glen. A little steep in places.

Start: Blairlogie Meadows car park
Distance: 3.2 km / 2 miles
Ascent: 430 m / 1400 feet
Terrain: paths both surfaced and unsurfaced

A gate at the back of the car park takes you on to a well made path with a sign post. Go left towards Blairlogie for about 200m to reach the edge of the village. Turn right on to an unsurfaced path that goes up hill through the trees to reach a burn. After crossing the burn the path climbs up the hillside on the west bank through a strip of woodland. As height is gained the trees thin out and a waterfall is passed at the confluence of two burns. Beyond this point you are in the upper reaches of the glen and at the final tree the path bears right to cross the headwaters of the burn.

Leave the main path at this point (don’t follow it as it turns right) on a feinter path aiming for the fence further up the glen. Cross this fence by climbing an old gate (there’s a convenient gap for dogs) and continue on the grassy path upwards until you reach the “motorway” from Sheriffmuir. Turn right on to this recently upgraded path and follow it (and lots of other people) towards the summit.

After passing through a gate on the path turn right on to a grassy path with a fence to your right. Follow this path to reach the subsidiary summit of Castle Law with its twin cairns. Either return from Castle Law to the “motorway” path the way you came or use one of the other paths that cut across the rather wet ground around here to reach the “motorway” nearer the summit. The summit is now easily attained by following the path.

Route 3 Castle Law

This route makes use of the Blairlogie Glen but takes a direct approach across the south face to the summit of Castle Law. A little bit more challenging than the Blairlogie Glen route.

Start: Blairlogie Meadows car park
Distance: 2.7 km / 1.7 miles
Ascent: 420 m / 1400 feet
Terrain: Unsurfaced paths and grassy off path

A gate at the back of the car park takes you on to a well made path with a sign post. Go left towards Blairlogie for about 200m to reach the edge of the village. Turn right on to an unsurfaced path that goes up hill through the trees to reach a burn. After crossing the burn the path climbs up the hillside on the west bank through a strip of woodland. As height is gained the trees thin out and a waterfall is passed at the confluence of two burns. Beyond this point you are in the upper reaches of the glen and the path soon bears right to cross the start of the burn. Keep to the path, don’t go straight on towards the gate in the fence, climbing steeply up the hillside on the opposite side of the glen.

After the crest of a hummock the path starts to descend to the larger burn (the one with the waterfall). This section of path is a bit eroded and care is required especially when crossing a couple of rocky steps. Once the burn is crossed the path turns right again to gain height and traverse around the front of the hillside on lumpy ground. Stick with the path until a broad grassy gully is reached at grid ref NS 829 973. Turn left (north) into the gully leaving the obvious path (which would take you to the Crags Route around the front of the hill) for a feinter grass path on the right hand side of the gully.

Head up the gully for 100m until you reach an obvious steep sided defile in the rocks to your right. Turn into this defile (the path is a bit less obvious now) and follow it for about 120m to emerge onto the open hillside. From here it is 200m in a roughly ESE direction on gently rising ground to the twin cairned summit of Castle Law hill fort site. A grassy path can be followed for most of the way.

After admiring the views from this summit head for the main and busier Dumyat summit via a rather boggy path in a firstly north west, and then northerly direction to join the wide “motorway” path from Sherrifmuir. Follow the crowds for the final approach to the summit.

Route 4 The Crags

A good route although not recommended for anyone suffering from vertigo as there are steep drops to one side when rounding the cliffs.

Start: Blairlogie Meadows car park
Distance: 3.2 km / 2 miles
Ascent: 520 m / 1700 feet
Terrain: Unsurfaced paths, One section around cliffs with steep drop.

A gate at the back of the car park takes you on to a well made path with a sign post. Go left towards Blairlogie for about 200m to reach the edge of the village. Turn right on to an unsurfaced path that goes up hill through the trees to reach a burn. After crossing the burn the path climbs up the hillside on the west bank through a strip of woodland. As height is gained the trees thin out and a waterfall is passed at the confluence of two burns. Beyond this point you are in the upper reaches of the glen and the path soon bears right to cross the start of the burn. Keep to the path, don’t go straight on towards the gate in the fence, climbing steeply up the hillside on the opposite side of the glen.

Keep on following the grassy path which now contours around the hillside and picks its way between rocky outcrops. As the path progresses the ground to your right starts to drop away and cliffs form to your left. A rocky step needs to be negotiated before a grassy section brings you to the edge of the Warloch Glen. Another rocky step must be negotiated as you turn left high above the glen. After this rocky bit the path becomes grassy again as it follows the edge of the glen to join with the Warloch Glen path.

At the top of the glen you can either go straight on and follow a path round to Castle Law or for a quick route to the summit go left up a grassy bank (steep at first but soon eases off) and follow a path round to the left.

Route 5 Warloch Glen

Possibly the most spectacular route up Dumyat. The route can be started from either Blairlogie Meadows or Menstrie Scout Hall.

Start: Blairlogie Meadows car park or Menstrie Scout Hall
Distance: 2.3 km / 1.4 miles (from Blairlogie) ; 3.2 km / 2 miles (from Menstrie)
Ascent: 440 m / 1450 feet (both starts)
Terrain: Steep unsurfaced paths

From Blairlogie

A gate at the back of the Blairlogie Meadowscar park takes you on to a well made path with a sign post. Turn right on the path towards Menstrie. Follow the path for about 500m passing round the back of Blairlogie House. When you are below the deep gash of the Warloch Glen look for a grassy path on your left going up hill before reaching a burn.

From Menstrie

Cross the bridge over the burn and walk to the end of the road. From this point follow the signpost for the Upland Blairlogie path which goes up some shallow concrete steps. After passing through a gate, an eroded path goes steeply uphill to join a landrover track close to a small reservoir. This first section is a bit of a calf killer but it is short. Once on the landrover track go left (which is actually downhill) past the reservoir. A newish path on your right is marked with a marker post and cuts off the corner of the landrover track to bring you round to the south side of the hill. Once back on the track go right to continue around the hill. When the track starts to bend left to go down to the main road take the narrow path on your right (which is effectively going straight on) and cross the burn that flows out of the Warloch Glen. When you are below the deep gash of the Warloch Glen look for a grassy path on your right going up hill.

Both approaches

This path makes its way up the steep hillside to the large boulder that guards the entrance of the glen. The path can be a bit hard to follow at times especially later in the year when the bracken is overgrown. Initially make your way towards the single tree up the hillside to your left. From there go uphill and then right towards the boulder. The more obvious path going right from the tree and under the gorse bush soon peters out leaving you with a rough climb up to the boulder.

Once at the boulder the gradient eases off and the route is on an obvious path up the steep sided glen. Keep going to the top of the glen. A path will join from your left (the Crags Route) and a path goes right which is a more direct route to the summit. When you reach the top of the glen and emerge from the cleft follow the path round to your left and on to the summit of Castle Law with its two cairns. Alternatively for a more direct route go up a steep grassy bank on your left at the top of the glen and follow a path round to the left to reach the summit.

After admiring the views from this summit head for the main and busier Dumyat summit via a rather boggy path in a firstly north west, and then northerly direction to join the wide “motorway” path from Sherriffmuir. Follow the crowds for the final approach to the summit.

Route 6 Menstrie Approach (South Loop and Direct)

If the direct route is taken this is the shortest and quickest route to the summit. Although steep it uses easy grassy paths/tracks. The loop around the south face is aesthetically more pleasing as it affords views of the Castle Law crags and Warloch Glen.

Start: Menstrie Scout Hall
Distance: 2.5 km / 1.5 miles (via the south loop) ; 1.7 km / 1 mile (direct)
Ascent: 410 m / 1300 feet (via the south) ; 390 m / 1250 feet (direct)
Terrain: Grassy paths (quite steep)

This route can also be reached from Blairlogie by turning right on to the path at the back of Blairlogie Meadows car park. Follow the path under the Warloch Glen until it reaches a landrover track. Turn left on to the track until it reaches the corner at Dumyat Farm where a new path cuts the corner and avoids the farm. Once back on the landrover track it’s about 150m to where the path from Menstrie joins the track and the grass path goes up the hillside.

Cross over the landrover track and pick up a wide grassy path on the opposite side which goes straight up the hillside.

There are no difficulties although for the quickest route as you approach the summit you should keep on going straight up rather than following the wider track round to the left and the front of the hill. The final section up to the summit is a bit steep.

For a more interesting variation stay on the wide grassy track which turns left before the summit and follow it around the south side of the hill. As you come round the hill the views ahead of you over to Castle Law, the Crags and the Warloch Glen open up. To your right is the rocky summit cone of Dumyat itself. The track passes a sheep fank and then reaches the area at the top of the Warloch Glen. From here you can stay on the track to climb steeply up to its join with the Sherriffmuir Motorway and hence the summit, or head across to the Castle Law.

Route 7 Menstrie Glen

A very straightforward route making use of the picturesque Menstrie Glen path and then a grassy path up the northern slope of Dumyat.

Start: Menstrie Scout Hall
Distance: 5 km / 3.2 miles
Ascent: 450 m / 1500 feet
Terrain: Unsurfaced paths and grassy hill path

Go east along the road from the Scout Hall. At the east end of Ochil Row a small lane runs between some cottages and newer houses to provide access via a metal gate to the old Pony Track. This track climbs steeply into the hills via hairpin bends. A number of the zig zags can be short cutted on grassy paths.

At a Tillhill Forestry sign where the track bends round to the right, a grassy path goes straight on alongside a deer fence. Follow this path above the Menstrie Glen keeping the fence to your right. After passing through a gate the path enters woodland and crosses the First Inchna Burn. The next section of this walk is extremely pleasant through native woodland alongside the Menstrie Burn crossing the Second Inchna Burn and then the Third Inchna Burn. After the third burn crossing a gate into a new forestry plantation is reached. Sadly this new forestry is going to cloak what was previously open hillside.

Follow the grass path across the hillside through the young trees to reach the ruin of Jerah. The path now turns left and goes downhill to a double gate arrangement. The first gate is openable but the second gate needs to be climbed. A wide grassy path now continues over rough farmland passing through a couple of openable gates to reach the Lossburn Reservoir dam. At the foot of the dam, follow the vehicle track up to reach a landrover track.

Immediately opposite, a grass path heads up the hill in front of you. The path is straightforward and is easily followed directly to the summit of Dumyat.

Route 8 Menstrie Glen and Lossburn Reservoir

Another route using Menstrie Glen but also including the Lossburn Reservoir and a grassy approach path along the crest of the hill.

Start: Menstrie Scout Hall
Distance: 6.2 km / 3.8 miles
Ascent: 500m / 1650 feet
Terrain: Unsurfaced paths and grassy hill path

To go round the reservoir cross the burn at the ford and then climb the fence to reach the grassy slope of the dam wall. Go up the slope crossing the outflow on the metal bridge to attain the top of the dam. Walk over the dam and then follow a grass path around the side of the reservoir. The path is a bit eroded in places but is easy enough to follow. The path joins a landrover track (from Dumyat Farm) at a fence where once there was a stile. It is now necessary to climb the fence.

Cross over the landrover track and head up the grassy slope opposite on to the slopes of the Dumyat. The ground is initially quite wet and a ditch must be crossed. Once over the ditch the ground starts to dry out and a feint path starts to appear. If you can’t find the path aim towards a rocky outcrop to the left of a cleft on the skyline. This cleft is a continuation of the Warloch Glen. Once above the rocky outcrop the path becomes more obvious as it turns left to follow the ridge to the summit of Dumyat. Just before the summit the path splits with the left hand path going directly to the summit whilst the right hand path joins the Sherriffmuir Motorway.