📌 Lowther Hills, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★
An odd assortment of shafts and balls grace the two highest points in the Lowther Hills, on the border between Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire. The unsightly paraphernalia of radar tracking stations, radio masts, old mineshafts and even a cluster of ski runs mean this is hardly the place to get away from all signs of human activity, but on the plus side, the tarmac access road to the summit buildings can be used to make speedy progress between the two summits of Lowther Hill and Green Lowther. Starting from Wanlockhead helps too: this former mining village is Scotland’s highest settlement. The panoramas from the top are exceptionally wide-ranging: if you’re lucky enough to get clear air on the day of your climb – as we were – you may be able to spot the Isle of Arran, the West Highlands and even the Paps of Jura: the latter just a shade under 100 miles away. Our circuit adds in East Mount Lowther at the start; 100 metres lower than the other two hills, it’s mercifully free of development and boasts superb views towards Criffel and the English Lake District. To round off a varied circuit, descend northwest from Green Lowther to reach a lonely reservoir, with tracks leading back to Wanlockhead from here.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Leaving Wanlockhead village 
Green Lowther from the initial ascent 
Looking down Mossy Burn 
Lowther Hill (left) & East Mount Lowther (far right) 
Enterkin Pass 
Looking down the Enterkin Burn from the col below East Mount Lowther 
View south from East Mount Lowther 
Ascent to Lowther Hill 
East Mount Lowther from Lowther Hill 
Radar road 
Radar road 
Pistes belonging to Lowther Hills Ski Club 
Lowther Hill 
Road towards Green Trough 
Road to Green Lowther 
Looking northwest from Green Lowther 
Hill traffic 
Green Lowther summit 
The descent from Green Lowther is mostly on a faint path 
Shortcleuch Water reservoir 
Shortcleuch Water reservoir, Green Lowther (left) & Lowther Hill (right) beyond 
Back on tarmac for the return to Wanlockhead
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Museum of Lead Mining, Wanlockhead village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 873129
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.397102,-3.779869
🚌 Bus to Wanlockhead
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 550 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: 🏭 Museum of Lead Mining ★★★★; △ East Mount Lowther (631 m, Donald); △ Lowther Hill (725 m, Donald); △ Green Lowther (732 m, “Torbett” / Donald); 🏠 Wanlockhead ★
⬤ Tough | Route up until Green Lowther is all on tracks, paths and private hill road (variety of surfaces). Intermittent path for descent (may be difficult to locate in poor weather), becoming a slightly wet track. Good tracks beyond reservoir. Keep to paths – the lower slopes are pockmarked with old mineshafts.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with extension to East Mount Lowther: start & Museum of Lead Mining – follow Southern Upland Way until path junction just after Little Arthur Grain – col between East Mount Lowther & Lowther Hill – East Mount Lowther – return to col – Lowther Hill via Lowther Hills Ski Club pistes – Green Trough – Green Lowther – Glen Franka Rig – Shortcleuch Water reservoir outflow – Wanlockhead – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Bird over prey over Wanlockhead, sheep and lambs. Midges at the summit of Green Lowther.
Weather: Sunny intervals with early summit fog soon clearing. Temperature in low teens, light winds.
August 2020
