Hill list
Donald
Definition
A Donald is a Scottish hill in the Lowlands (south of the Highland Boundary Fault) over 2,000ft (610m). 89 in total. The list excludes the Highland 2,000-footers (which appear on the Graham or Corbett lists depending on prominence) and the Cheviots.
Etymology & origin
Compiled by Percy Donald in the 1930s, predating both the Corbett and Graham lists. Donald was a Lowland walker who felt the Munro and Corbett lists ignored the Southern Uplands entirely. His drop criteria are the most relaxed of the Scottish hill lists — a Donald 'Top' requires only 100ft of drop, and full Donald status requires sufficient separation but the criterion is less stringent than Corbett's 500ft.
Context & usage
The Donald list covers the Lowther Hills, the Moffat Hills, the Manor Hills, the Ettrick and Tweedsmuir Hills, and the Galloway hills. The Southern Upland Way long-distance route crosses the Donald range repeatedly; Hart Fell, White Coomb, Broad Law and Mount Battock are all Donalds.
For walkers based in the Central Belt, the Donalds are the most accessible Scottish hill list — most are within an hour of Glasgow or Edinburgh, often closer than the nearest Munro. The terrain is gentler than the Highlands (rolling grass and heather rather than crag-and-scree), the paths are more obvious, and the weather windows are more generous than the high Munro country.
Despite the obvious advantages, the Donalds get a fraction of the foot traffic of any Highland list. Many Donald summits see fewer than 100 walkers a year. Tinto Hill near Lanark is the exception — the most-walked Donald, with a clear path from the road and bus access from Glasgow.
Related terms
Munro
A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000ft (914.4m) in height with sufficient prominence to be considered a separate hill rather than a subsidiary summit. The current list contains 282 Munros, ranging from Ben Nevis (1,345m) to Beinn Teallach (915m). The list is maintained by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.
Corbett
A Corbett is a Scottish hill between 2,500ft (762m) and 3,000ft (914.4m) with at least 500ft (152m) of drop on all sides. The 500ft re-ascent rule separates Corbetts from subsidiary summits along the same ridge. There are 222 Corbetts in total.
Graham
A Graham is a Scottish hill between 2,000ft (610m) and 2,500ft (762m) with at least 150 metres of drop on all sides. Currently 231 Grahams. Some older guidebooks call them Fionas after the original compiler.
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Reviewed 2026-05-28