Scotland
Benarty Hill
356M
1168FT
About Benarty Hill
Rising steeply above the flat plains of the Kinross Basin, this prominent Marilyn is a local landmark often called the 'Sleeping Giant'. The extensive heathery plateau at the summit offers an expansive perspective of Loch Leven, providing a sense of scale and space that belies its modest 356-metre height.
Key Statistics
Rank
131st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
228m
Nearest Town
Kelty
Geology
Benarty Hill is built from layers of sandstone and limestone, capped by a tough sheet of cooled molten rock that gives the hill its rugged shape.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT153978
Latitude
56.1661°N
Longitude
3.3642°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Pictish word for 'stony mountain', referencing the craggy summit ridge of Mulla Craig. Alternatively, it may derive from the Gaelic Beinn Artaidh, potentially meaning 'mountain where there are bears', or more simply Beinn Àrdaidh, meaning 'at the high hill'.
- •When viewed from the north across Loch Leven, the hill’s profile resembles a reclining figure, earning it the local nickname of the 'Sleeping Giant'. The RSPB Loch Leven visitor centre provides the starting point for a designated path of the same name.
- •The summit ridge, known as Mulla Craig, serves as the historic boundary between Fife and Perth and Kinross. While the climb through the southern forest is steady, the northern face is significantly more precipitous.
- •On a clear day, the vista extends far beyond the immediate sights of the Lomond Hills and the Firth of Forth. Looking west, the profile of the Isle of Arran can sometimes be spotted over 80 miles away, while the Southern Highlands dominate the northern skyline.
- •Motorists on the M90 are treated to an excellent view of the hill's steep northern face, though they generally have a much easier time crossing the Fife-Perthshire border than those tackling the ascent on foot.