Farmland and forestry walk

Strathmiglo and Auchtermuchty Loop, Fife

Strathmiglo is a gateway to the Lomond Hills, a track striking south from the village across fields and through woodland to the craggy, tree-clad escarpment of West Lomond. It is also an entry point to the Ochil Hills, or at least their eastern tail. The starting point for hikers in either direction is Strathmiglo Village Hall in the curiously named street of California.

From here, I pottered down over the youthful River Eden, spotting a heron as I passed through a peaceful wee picnic area and then cul-de-sac to reach the village primary school, where High Street leads up and over the line of a former railway to the busy A91.

Safely across, Frears’ Mill Road – a field-edge track – heads north, passing through a couple of wooden kissing gates before descending to cross Barroway Burn by a wooden bridge from where a path continues along the edge of the next field.

It meets Glentarkie Road by Gardener’s Cottage, part of the estate of Pitlour House from where the road rises through Willandale Plantation.

Higher up, beyond the entrance to Kincraigie Farm, at a well-placed bench, a track breaks right, dipping through the trees. It is worth packing sturdy overtrousers or gaiters for this section as the trail can become overgrown with nettles at times.

Crossing a stream, the way curves right to a signpost and gate leading into fields where the route rises towards a pair of gates, bearing left just ahead of them, before continuing its ascent north along the edges of a succession of fields.

Joining a firmer track beyond a gate just west of Dumbarrow Farm, bear left initially then right at the next junction and the gravel road weaves up to meet Glentarkie Road below Glentarkie Hill.

Access to Pitmedden Forest, which cloaks the Ochil summits here, is to be found a short walk down the road, a track rising from one parking area to another. It follows the line of Muchty Road.

This leads east, passing a third parking area before descending below

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Broom Hill and New Hill (ignore gated tracks branching left and right) to emerge from Pitmedden Forest at Newhill Farm.

After a brief uphill stint, the road makes a leisurely descent, initially by the Forestry Commission woodlands of The Clink, through farmland to Auchtermuchty, passing a memorial to Jimmy Shand.

Auchtermuchty Burn accompanied me south through the centre of the community, across the A91 and, after a pleasant stroll over parkland, on towards Dunshalt where I turned west, a quiet rural byway and then track cutting through the arable lands of the Howe of Fife, in the shadow of the Lomond Hills, to Reedieleys Farm.

Here the way curves anti-clockwise around the sheds, track and then path leading straight back to Strathmiglo.

ROUTE

1. Descend through picnic area, crossing River Eden, then go left on gravel path through arch between houses, proceed along Millfield Court and bear left up High Street to A91.

2. Cross and follow signed Frears’ Mill Road path to Glentarkie Road. Go left up road for 600m.

3. Branch right off road, along woodland track to gate. Ascend grassy trail (signed Abernethy) over farmland to rejoin Glentarkie Road at Glen Cottage.

4. Descend road north for 800m, turn right into Pitmedden Forest and ascend track to signed junction by parking area.

5. Continue ahead (sign missing) along track to another parking area in 500m then descend track east then south-east to exit forest at Newhill Farm.

6. Follow minor road to Auchtermuchty, proceeding along Mournipea, Distillery Street and Burnside to A91.

7. Cross and continue south along Burnside and B936 towards Dunshalt.

8. Where B936 swings left, go right along minor road to Nethermyres Farm then Cash Mill. Branch right along track to Reedieleys Farm and continue west on track (signed footpath) then path to Strathmiglo.

9. Bear left across River Eden and A912 and follow Cash Feus then Skene Street to village hall.