Ochils - Outlier

The Ochils are a range of small hills that extend eastwards from Stirling, forming the northern boundary of the flat strath of the Forth Valley and butting up against the western fringes of Fife and Kinross. I've walked and cycled there many times over the years so know them reasonably well. However, what I didn't know until recently is that they extend further than I realised, sneaking behind Fife's Lomond Hills and culminating in the little, outlying peak of Norman's Law on Fife's north coast. Being a bit of a map nerd, I became fascinated by this fact and drooled for months over the browns of the Law's tight contours and  the blues of the Tay Estuary, above which the hill is perched. Finally a warm, sunny late summer's day provided an opportunity to get to the top.

The walk started at the quiet hamlet of Luthrie and headed west on a farm road before joining a dirt track to climb up into rolling terrain and scattered copses of trees. When the path broke out onto open moorland, it really felt like being in the Highlands or at least somewhere more grand, especially with the purple heather in bloom. The route then descended into a wooded, swampy dip and passed through head-high bracken before climbing up the final, steep cone of the hill. Here house martins filled the air and swooped passed at eye level as the path gained height. 

The top seemed a long time coming for such a little peak. But there had already been great variety in the decent length approach walk, much like a big hill but on a small scale. Norman's Law is only 285m high but it's a significant viewpoint in these parts with vistas over the rolling hills and farmland of north Fife and the broad waters of the Tay. Ancient people recognised this fact as well and on the south side of the top a jumble of rocks marks the remains of their Iron Age fort. Looking south from the fort, they would also gaze over the dramatic, twin peaks of the Lomond Hills which, like Norman's Law, are extinct volcanoes. 

For a different return option, the route gingerly crossed a field of Highland cows and zig-zagged through jaggy gorse before following a delightful path along a woodland edge back towards Luthrie. Looking over my shoulder for my last view of the hill, I marvelled at how a little peak could deliver such an enjoyable walk. And I felt very pleased that I'd finally made it to the Ochil's outlier.

Fact File

Start/finish: Luthrie, north Fife

Transport: Luthrie can be accessed via quiet roads by bicycle from the National Cycle Network route number 1 route between Dundee and Newburgh.

My route: From the sharp bend on the main road through Luthrie a farm track heads west and is signed for Norman's Law. At a crossroads where the road becomes dirt track, turned right up the hill and followed this track to the wooded dip above which it passes through a gate to join another track. Opposite and slightly to the left of the gate , the hill route continues to the top as a footpath. To return, descended back to the track at the gate and turned right. When it become open field, the track is less clear in the grass but passes down to the left where there is a gorse-filled dip, crosses a gate then another, then continues as good track. At least that's how it should have gone but it wasn't that obvious. Soon there is a path junction with walking signs along a woodland edge. This comes out at the first crossroads.