Walk: Benarty Hill – surprise view from the Sleeping Giant

📌 Ballingry, Fife
★★★★

This is surely one of lowland Scotland’s most underrated small hills. The trig point on lowly Benarty Hill sits at the northern edge of a broad area of high ground. The hill’s profile when seen from the north side gives it the nickname Sleeping Giant, but this “giant” is a fairly amiable one when tackled from the south. A short, steep ascent through trees soon leads to a straightforward amble across the plateau with great views looking back. But nothing compares to the surprise view of Loch Leven, only revealed upon arrival at the summit. For the most straightforward route, return the same way. If you fancy a little more of a challenge – and something a little off the beaten track – rougher paths trace the edge of the escarpment to Mulla Crag further west, returning through farmland.

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on minor road 0.5 mi west of Ballingry

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 159970

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.158021,-3.355729

🚌 Bus to Ballingry (0.5 mi)

🚗 Layby, or more space further along road – don’t block gates or tracks

📝 Key info

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 270 m | ⌛ 2 hr

Features: △ Benarty Hill (356 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)

⬤ Moderate | Paths and tracks almost throughout. Ascent is steep but on clear paths. Remainder of circuit has fainter paths and brief pathless sections.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Benarty Wood – Benarty Hill – Castle Craig – Mulla Craig – rejoin road at 🧭 NT 152966 – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep and cows on descent; small birds.

Weather: 5°C, sunshine above low level fog.

September 2020