Bishop Hill

About Bishop Hill

Standing as the most westerly major summit of the Lomond Hills, this grassy Marilyn offers a gentler profile than its neighbour, West Lomond. The ascent from Kinnesswood via the steep scarp reveals dramatic limestone cliffs known as the Bishop's Face, leading to a sprawling, airy plateau with expansive views.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The hill’s name originates from its historical status as part of the lands belonging to the Bishopric of St Andrews, dating back to the medieval administration of the Fife and Kinross region.
• •Below the summit plateau stands Carlin Maggie, a distinctive thirty-foot basalt pillar. Local folklore suggests the rock is a witch who was petrified by the Devil during a dispute, and it remains a popular target for adventurous scramblers.
• •The western escarpment is a premier site for gliding; the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak sits at the base, where pilots utilize the reliable ridge lift created when westerly winds strike the steep limestone face.
• •The summit offers a bird's-eye view of the historic Loch Leven and its islands, with the Ochil Hills to the west and the distant silhouette of the Bass Rock visible in the Firth of Forth on clear days.
• •While categorized as a Marilyn, the hill is often used by locals as a high-altitude spectator gallery for the gliders, who occasionally fly low enough for walkers to find themselves looking down at the cockpits.