Property of RKB

I Love The Lomonds © Robbie Kennedy Bennett




The Lomond Hills have two peaks, East and West Lomond and they are in central Fife.
West Lomond is the greater and can be seen for many miles.

For further information;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomond_Hills






One early May morning 2010 in the parish of Falkland the church clock chimed six times as I walked from my car. Once again I had travelled overnight to Fife, crossing the border about 3.00am, this time to climb the Lomonds. I had first mentioned them in my poem The Kingdom of Fife and I wanted to see for myself how good the views were from up there so I was hoping for a clear morning. I hadn’t done the best of homework and wasn’t sure where the best place to park my car would be for an easy access. I did find it a bit hard, as it is quite a short and steep climb from Falkland taking about an hour. I found myself damming Scotland for drawing me to challenges like this, as I’m not getting any younger. Far gone was the time when I was running marathon after marathon. The only real exercise I get these days are the daily dog walk and a 20minute work out at home before I set off to work.


With a fast beating heart and tired legs I paused a few times to see the magnificent view that was appearing behind me. I was told that my Great Grandfather would sit outside his house in Monkstown, Ladybank admiring the Lomonds; I wanted to climb the Lomonds for that very reason. To be up where he has looked at countless times. I was cursing a bit because as I was getting close to the top that there was some cloud forming in a southern easterly direction and moving around the hill. If I had any gas left as they say I would have put my foot on it but to be honest I was shattered.

It was noticeable when I did get to the summit of just under 1,400ft that the wind was stronger the south side of East Lomond. The views from there over the Ballo and Harperleas Reservoirs were spectacular, well worth suffering for a while from aching joints and breathlessness. And guess what? I’d forgot to bring my camera so pictures taken from my mobile phone had to do.


© Robbie Kennedy Bennett

Dam Ye Scotland ©

I have to catch my breath
my heart is beating fast,
dam ye Scotland dam ye
the damming didnae last.

Drawn again to challenge
or peace of mind to come,
but dam ye Scotland dam ye
at this time it is nae fun.

Step, by step, in a rut, I put my sole of a shoe.
I cannae lie, oh my, o’er Fife there’s a grand view.
Falkland up to East Lomond,
tough, for the age of this man,
if an eye is looking at East Lomond
on the peak of it, there I am.

A wee speck that’s well out of breath
at this time it is nae fun.
dam ye Scotland dam ye
dam glad, I am, that I come.


© Robbie Kennedy Bennett


From there I followed the trail passing disused quarries and down to Craigmead car park making my way by road back to Falkland. By this time I had recovered from the climb and was appreciating the tranquil sound of running water and birds singing. I was being looked on as suspicious by the ewes and their lambs in the field on the outskirts of Falkland. This wee trek really did ease the working stress of the past year.
I decided to leave West Lomond about 1,700ft to some other time giving me a reason to pay Fife another visit.

Within a short while I walked into Kingskettle Cemetery and like a lot of places in Fife there is a fine view of the Lomonds. I read my ancestors gravestone, having only found it in recent years and thought about people I had never met. Certainly many times in their life they would have looked at the Lomonds, those two peaks of volcanic origin that dominate the skyline, and now I’ve been up there, what a feeling.

Next stop was Ladybank where I sat on a bench by the war memorial eating a sausage roll that I had purchased for breakfast. Soon I was driving south arriving back in Codsall about 2.30pm. In our dining room is a water coloured painting of the Lomonds by Leslie Broadfield, a relation of mine from a photograph that I had taken. I have studied it many times and thought that I should climb up there sometime, now I can say I have.

Another wee trek fascinated by Fife,
My ancestral kingdom is alive in my life.





I'VE BEEN THERE AT THE RISING SUN © Robbie Kennedy Bennett

What have I done? Wait, I’ll pour a drink,
let me settle here with a dram
and let me think.

What have I done?
I’ve been there at the rising sun
in your garden ay that royal garden.

Climbed hills and walked the shore
that I should’ve walked years before,
I plead for pardon
please grant my pardon.

Living and growing in the Black Country
proudly showing the knowing that there is more to me,
o’er three hundred miles is where I delve
year by year through months of twelve.

What have I done?
I’ve been there at the rising sun,
tired and older
sang there was a Scottish Soldier.

Wind blows crisp into my aging face
time has fled since I ran my last race,
Falkland Hill, panorama eyed at this peak
as a voice from the heart does speak.

“Look where you’ve come, look where you’ve come,
you’ve came here at the rising sun,
in our garden ay our royal garden”.

“See th’ pastures green our Robbie?
Nay Laddie, you’re not in a dream,
ages you’ve taken to discover haven’t you?
“Our shores, these hills, this view”

Only imaginary oh ay,
look at me, son o’ Cecil as high as the sky.
Everyone there in the Howe of Fife
the bairns back home and my faithful wife.
Another wee adventure afore I die
can’t explain it, as I don’t know why.

Wind blows crisp into my aging skin
cutting deep into my roots within,
ne’er lost or misguided, shredded or torn
boy to man and twice I was born.

What have I done? Well, I’ve drank my drink
after settling here with a dram
ay it’s made me think.

What have I done?
I’ve been there at the rising sun
in your garden ay that royal garden.

© Robbie Kennedy Bennett

A poem of what I’ve done in recent years when returning to Fife. Scaling East Lomond at dawn and although breathless I’m fascinated by the view all around and thinking that this is where the Royal family of Stuarts made their country escape.

The land before me I thought was hunting territory for the Royals as I searched for Strathmiglo, Auchtermuchty, Collessie and Ladybank.

Even to this day Andy Stewart’s A Scottish Soldier takes me back to my childhood. Although not on the top of a Highland Hill I’m here on my ancestor hills of home, and it felt special.

I’ve Been There at the Rising Sun © Robbie Kennedy Bennett



HERE IN THE HOWE © Robbie Kennedy Bennett

Oh, how luesome
the Howe and all its pasture
will it last yer? Oh Laddie
will it now

here in the Howe
a lang and lestie measure of
rural pleasure and a gladsome mark
a scar that hurts my heart
Bonnie Scotland
guilty thou art

oh, how welcome
the Howe and heritable history
a wee tait of mystery
here in the Howe

life that breathed
souls that grieved
folk, they travel by past yer
will it last yer? Oh Laddie
here in the Howe

Oh how awesome,
the twosome Lomonds
goad the road I chose
and those, who travel by past yer
I ask yer, will it last yer? Oh Laddie
will it now

will it last yer?
here in the evergreen heather
and mauve flowers
while away the hours
but now, do you want some more?
on to Luthrie and to Norman's Law

here in the Howe
had some goodness
in the handsome Howe
and a gladsome mark
that scar that hurts my heart
Bonnie Scotland
guilty thou art

Here in the Howe © Robbie Kennedy Bennett





POETIC WRITING OF ROBBIE KENNEDY BENNETT ©
www.rkbpoetry.co.uk

www.scotlands-enchanting-kingdom.com/in-my-blood.html

www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/bennett.php

www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=22949

www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-news/displayarticle.asp?id=104273

www.fifetoday.co.uk/east-fife-mail-news/Wolverhampton-wanderer-muses-on-coastal.3926209.jp

www.wolvesheroes.com/2009/01/13/an-ode-to-hugh/#more-2360

pub10.bravenet.com/forum/849684916/show/1013616

www.smartcommunityfife.org.uk/collessie-and-letham/history/

www.smartcommunityfife.org.uk/ladybank/history/