Glenearn Hills

By James Carron

Set off down a track which heads south-west from the bend in the road. It skirts by a brick shed, part of West Dron Farm, before descending to modernised cottages at the end of the track. Go left here, up a track signed 'Wallace Road'. This tree-lined right of way rises gently between open fields and recently planted areas of woodland to reach a junction.

Go right and the track passes through metal gates. It rises through a hairpin bend, skirting round the hillside to reach a fork higher up. Take the right-hand option and go through an unlocked metal gate. The track rises steadily through a wide grassy break in a coniferous forest, curving right.

Higher up a junction is reached. Go left on a grassy track which rises briefly before running level round the hillside. Continue until round reach a wide which runs at right angles across the track. Go right here, leaving the track and a grassy path climbs on to West Dron Hill. It leaves the confines of the trees and rises over an open grassy slope dotted with gorse and saplings to reach the flat grassy summit. There is a rather meagre cairn but it doesn't actually occupy the high point.

There are superb views from here, east to the Lomond Hills in Fife and north over Bridge of Earn to the mountains of the southern Highlands in the distance. The route continues into the glen to the west of West Dron Hill. However, the western slope of the hill below the summit is guarded by a seemingly impenetrable strip of trees. To avoid these descend in a south-westerly direction from the top, heading down over the slope of grass and heather to reach the upturned wreck of a caravan. From here a grassy path goes right, cutting through the trees and descending to the base of the glen where it crosses the Wyllie Burn.

Continue along an obvious level grassy path, skirting round the northern flank of Pitkeathly Hill. Just before it emerges from the trees on to a grassy mound, go left through a firebreak in the trees. As you emerge from the conifers, bear right and head for a fence a few metres away at a stand of tall larch and oak trees.

Climb over the fence, taking care to avoid the barbed wire strand. Cross the Hall Burn and head straight up the slope of moss and heather. Continue straight on to reach a fallen-down stone wall lined with tall beech trees. Cross this and go straight on to reach a rundown stone wall, just beyond a small stream.

When you reach the wall, go left and follow it over the grassy hillside to reach a junction of walls. Go straight on here and a grassy track, following the wall, climbs between the two 300-metres knolls of Glenearn Hill. Stay with the wall and after levelling out, the way descends towards an electricity pylon line. Two pylons are visible ahead.

Just before the wall reaches another wall running at right angles, go left, heading towards the left-hand pylon. Immediately below the pylon another junction of walls is reached. Go right here and follow the wall down to a grassy track. Turn left and follow this to the ruins of Glenearnhill Farm.

Continue up the track to a stand of larch trees where there's a stile on the right. Cross and climb up on to the summit of Castle Law, the site of an ancient fort and a great viewpoint.

Return to the ruins of Glenearnhill Farm and follow the track as it descends, steeply in places, to Glenearn Farm. Bear right on the road and follow it east back to West Dron.

WALK FACTS

Distance 6 miles/10km.
Map OS Landranger sheet 58.
Start West Dron Farm, grid ref NO 126158.
Parking Roadside parking near West Dron Farm.
Grading A moderate walk to some great viewpoints, following track and path through forestry and over open hillside. Dogs on lead due to sheep grazing.