This is a the view from the top of the West Lomond looking over to Loch Leven. Confusingly the Lomond hills aren’t anything to do with Loch Lomond which is in the west of Scotland where the scenery is altogether much more spectacular.
Friday was a lovely blue sky day so we decided to go on our first hill walk of the year and chose the West Lomond hill near the village of Falkland in Fife. Usually both of the Lomonds are incredibly busy, in fact the first time I walked up them there were hoards of people going up and down which was a strange experience for me. I prefer hill walking to be fairly solitary with just a few people visible in the distance. Here is the West Lomond, it’s just as well that you can’t here us peching and panting our way uphill!
I had my wish this time and on the whole walk we only saw four other people. The hills are full of ground nesting birds at this time of the year and the whole place was full of larks singing very high up in the sky.
If you veer off the track to the right you can see a large green mound which is called Maiden Castle. It’s the remains of an Iron Age settlement and although it’s really just a big mound of grass it’s nice to have a walk to the top of it and imagine what it must have been like all those years ago. The mounds in the next picture are where the entrance is supposed to have been.
Just to prove that we did actually make it to the top of West Lomond here is a photo of yours truly standing by the Ordnance Survey marker, the shades were as much about keeping the wind out of my eyes as the sun.
So that was the good part of the day. The bad part was being stuck in Edinburgh airport waiting to pick my brother up and his flight being delayed for over four hours. Now I remember why I don’t like travelling!
Nice photos! I’m not much of a hiker, but I admire those who enjoy the activity. I’ve mostly been to the West in Scotland – seen Loch Lomond, but not those hills.
Pearl,
I grew up about 4 miles away from Loch Lomond, a very easy walk even for a child, and the hills around there are beautiful compared with the ones in the east. Which is just one of the reasons that I’m pining for the west!
Loch Lomond was absolutely gorgeous. I love pretty countryside. We took a boat ride – some touristy thing, but most relaxing.
We’re headed for Ireland this summer — meating up with my daughter in Dublin and driving around together for a week, then flying back to Scotland with her for a couple of days before heading home.
Pearl,
I used to take a boat trip on Loch Lomond every summer, it’s very popular with trippers from Glasgow too.
I’ve only been to visit friends in Northern Ireland and I hated the place! We had intended driving down to Ireland but it was so hot that year that we couldn’t stand the thought of so long in the car with the kids. Dublin is supposed to be lovely.
Great photos, it looks very bleak but also very inspiring. Good place to blow the cobwebs away I am sure.
Jo,
It does look bleak, I think in reality it is a bit greener and it will look better later in the year when the heather is flowering. It’s great when you reach the top, the first time I did it I thought I would never make it because the last part is a very steep grassy hill. I was nearly on my knees!
Stunning photos, I hope I make it to Scotland someday! I love your shoes, by the way. And I hope you had something good to read while you waited for your brother’s flight. You are a good sister to wait so long for him.
Karen,
I hope you get here someday too! The shoes are just comfy hill-walking things. I was nearly biting the floor with boredom at the airport because I had absolutely nothing with me, I usually have a book in my bag but silly me, I expected to just waltz in at the right time and he would be there. I’ll get my reward in heaven – maybe!