Mennock Pass (B797)

📌 Road pass between Mennock, Dumfries & Galloway & Abington, South Lanarkshire
★★★

Scenic road passes are ten-a-penny in this part of the Southern Uplands, with three crossing the Lowther Hills over a distance of just a few miles. The highest, and by some distance, is the Mennock Pass, taking its name from the hamlet on the west side, where it’s probably best to start. The thin strip of tarmac stays trapped in the confines of a narrow valley all the way up to Wanlockhead, the country’s highest village. Another 50 metres of climbing and it’s then downhill all the way to Abington on the M74 motorway, through a slightly broader glen. A fork to the right at Leadhills offers an alternative descent route, with less traffic but more bends (and more sheep wandering across the road). Combine with the nearby Dalveen Pass for an excellent, scenic driving route.

🌍 Location

📌 West end is at the A76 junction near Mennock

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 810078

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.350003,-3.877680

△ Summit is at:

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 880134

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.401856,-3.770202

📌 East end is at the A702 junction near Abington (or alternative east end at Elvanfoot)

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 930231

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.490093,-3.694637

🚌 Buses to Wanlockhead use the pass. To see the whole pass, you will need to change in Wanlockhead

🚗 Surfaced B-road, mostly narrow double track, with various car parks / laybys

📝 Key info

▶ 24 km / 15 mi | ▲ 340 m

⌚ Always open except after exceptional snowfall

🎫 Free