The Hill of Beath, near Cowdenbeath

The Hill of Beath is the name of a village on the fringes of Cowdenbeath - built on the flanks of the hill of the same name. Although the summit is a lowly 240m and the walk to it extremely short, it's a very fine viewpoint for this part of Fife.

Terrain

Unmarked; mostly grassy tracks and paths, one steep loose pull.

Public Transport

Bus stop - Hill of Beath village around 500m from start.

Start

Elm Park, Hill of Beath. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance

2km / 1.25 miles

Time

45 minutes

Ascent

73m (Profile)

Start Grid Ref

NT146902

Mapping and GPS

Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the furthest corner of the new housing estate at Hill of Beath - which is not fully shown on Ordnance Survey maps. Drive or walk to Elm Park. There are parking spaces around the estate, and at the start of the walk - but avoid parking in any with a number as they are dedicated to a specific house. Begin the walk from the far top corner of Elm Park; head into the tarmac turning / parking area then bear left through a kissing gate.

Stage 2

The walk begins along a grassy track, with the Hill of Beath well seen ahead. At a fence corner by a large tree ignore the waymarked paths left and continue along the unfenced and faint grassy track ahead.

Stage 3

This soon leads to a farm gate by the woods. The gate may be locked, but there's a stile alongside - cross this and head through the, sometimes overgrown, field ahead briefly before you can use another stile to rejoin the track. Just beyond it meets a much larger new track; turn right along this uphill. After rounding a bend, leave the treack and turn left up briefy but steep loose slope to reach the grassy ridge above. Continue along the open ridge towards the summit of the hill.

Stage 4

There's a trig point on the grassy summit of the Hill of Beath - and often lovely wild flowers in summer. The view is surprisingly extensive for such a modest hill; the Forth Bridges are especially well seen, whilst the motorway - though closeby - doesn't intrude.

Stage 5

Continue along the ridge until a fenceline is ahead - then turn left, descending a little and beginning the walk back by following a grassy mound - like an earthwork - that runs along the side of the hill. Eventually this leads back to the new track - go straight across and then retrace your steps back to the start.

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