📌 Ochil Hills, Fife
★★★
This tasty little circuit climbs from the coast at Newburgh, Fife to Ormiston Hill – the east side of which is gradually being consumed by Clatchard Craig Quarry. Paths on the hill are surprisingly rough and steep, but the effort is worth it for stunning views up and down the broad Firth of Tay. The return route peers into the quarry, after which the going gets easier, taking in a whisky distillery and neighbouring Tironensian abbey ruin.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Firth of Tay at the start 
Newburgh Park 
West end of Newburgh High Street 
Bridge over the railway 
Ascent to Ormiston Hill 
View northeast from the summit 
Looking south 
Descent towards Clatchard Craig Quarry 
Bench with a view 
Newburgh 
Upper part of the firth 
Clatchard Craig Quarry 
Section along the A913 
Track to Parkhill 
Lindores Abbey & Distillery 
Pow of Lindores 
Croy Point 
Croy Point 
Return to Newburgh along the coast 
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at north end of West Port Road, northwest side of Newburgh
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 231185
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.352404,-3.245993
🚌 Bus to Newburgh
🚗 Car park / nearby street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 250 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: 🏠 Newburgh; △ Ormiston Hill / Black Cairn Hill (236 m); ⛪ Lindores Abbey ★; 🥃 Lindores Abbey Distillery ★★★★
⬤ Moderate | Paths, pavements & grassy fields. Several sections on Ormiston Hill are steep, narrow & rough, with a pathless section on grass during the descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start & Newburgh – Ormiston Hill – north side of Clatchard Craig Quarry – Denmylne – Lindores Abbey – Lindores Abbey Distillery – Croy Point – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows on Ormiston Hill, grey squirrels. Swans, greylag geese, woodpigeons, collared doves, blackbirds.
Weather: Quite sunny with more cloud cover building inland. Temperature not lifting above 10°C.
May 2026
