📌 Pentland Hills, South Lanarkshire
★★
Black Mount’s heathery bulk stretches west from Dolphinton on the Edinburgh to Biggar road. Along with neighbouring White Hill, it forms a quiet southern footnote to the Pentland Hills range, with fresh snow continuing the monochrome theme on our December visit.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Black Mount Parish Church, just off A702 at southwest end of Dolphinton
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 101464
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.702460,-3.431541
🚌 Bus stops on A702
🚗 Limited street parking – more space on A702 at northeast end of village
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 300 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: △ Black Mount (516 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Field edge path & good track for approach, then narrow heather path – affected by landslip on initial steep section. Fence to cross at Charlie’s Bower.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – road then parallel path to track junction west of Dolphinton House – Charlie’s Bower – Windlestraw Top – Black Mount – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, red grouse, hundreds of geese flying overhead.
Weather: Sunny with a little valley mist, light wind, a few degrees below freezing. About 20 cm of fresh powder snow.
December 2022
