📌 Moffat Hills, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★
If the Southern Uplands have a stereotype of gently rolling hills then Moffat Dale must be an exception, with steep slopes rising 500 vertical metres or more on either side. After an immediate energy-sapping climb (nothing gentle about this!), the grassy ridges surrounding the tributary of Blackhope Burn form Scotland’s best horseshoe route this side of the Central Belt. Hart Fell at the head of the valley is the highest summit but Saddle Yolk is the most dramatic, with a very short but airy ridge to reach it.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Very steep ascent near Hang Gill 
Looking back from the initial ascent 
Waterfall on Hang Burn 
Hang Burn 
Saddle Yoke from above Black Craig 
Saddle Yoke 
Upper part of Black Hope (glen) from Swatte Fell 
Lower part of Black Hope 
Looking back 
Fruid Reservoir from Hart Fell 
Whirly Gill 
Whirly Gill from the ascent to Under Saddle Yoke 
Carrifran Wildwood from Under Saddle Yoke 
Narrow ridge to Saddle Yoke 
View down Nether Torr Gill from the short ridge 
Saddle Yolk 
Lower Moffat Dale from the descent 
Lower slopes 
View up Moffat Dale from the final section 
View up Black Hope (glen) 
Black Hope – inside this horseshoe route
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Blackshope cottage (A708 5 mi northeast of Moffat)
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 147098
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.375113,-3.347593
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Limited space at layby – don’t block access
📝 Key info
▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 890 m | ⌛ 5.5-6.5 hr
Features: △ Swatte Fell (729 m, Donald); △ Hart Fell (808 m, Corbett / Donald); △ Under Saddle Yoke (745 m, Donald)
⬤ Tough | Faint paths most of the time, potentially soggy in places. Some pathless sections including initial (very steep) ascent and above Whirly Gill.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – cross Blackhope Burn on A708 – Hang Gill north side – Black Craig – Swatte Fell – Falcon Craig – Hart Fell – Hartfell Rig – Under Saddle Yoke – Saddle Yoke – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep and annoying heather flies on ascent; a few wild goats on Swatte Fell.
Weather: Cloudy at start, becoming sunny. Moderate winds, fairly cool for August.
August 2014
