📌 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

🌍 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.

➡️ 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

Download file for GPS

🥾 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
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