Scotland
Saline Hill
359M
1178FT
About Saline Hill
Rising steeply above the village of Saline in West Fife, this prominent volcanic plug offers a short but rewarding climb. The grassy slopes lead to a twin-topped summit where the remains of an Iron Age hill fort mark the higher eastern peak, overlooking the Firth of Forth and the distant Ochils.
Key Statistics
Rank
121st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
104m
Nearest Town
Steelend
Geology
You are walking on layers of volcanic ash and volcanic rock, formed by an ancient vent system that once channeled molten material.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT038932
Latitude
56.1221°N
Longitude
3.5479°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Sabhlan', meaning 'little barn'. It is believed that this refers to a tithe barn where agricultural tributes for the Scottish Crown were once collected and stored.
- •The higher eastern summit is crowned by the remains of an Iron Age hill fort, which utilized natural basalt crags to provide a formidable defensive position over the surrounding Fife plains.
- •To the south-east sits the neighbouring Bandrum Hill, notable for a solitary prehistoric standing stone that marks its peak, indicating the long-standing ritual importance of these small volcanic outcrops.
- •On a clear day, the summit offers a detailed panorama including the industrial skyline of Grangemouth, the sprawling mass of the Ochil Hills to the north, and all three of the Forth Bridges to the south-east.
- •The local golf course occupies the lower slopes of the hill, meaning a particularly wayward drive from the first tee can occasionally land several contours higher than the golfer intended.