Corbett · Borders
Broad Law
Broad Law is the high point of the Manor Hills above Tweedsmuir — a rolling green dome that is the second highest hill in the Southern Uplands and the highest in the Borders council area. It sits in the empty country south of Peebles between St Mary's Loch and the upper Tweed, and the summit carries a Civil Aviation Authority VOR/DME navigation beacon, a white drum visible for miles. The view stretches from the Pentlands and Lothian coast north to the Cheviots south and across to the Galloway hills.
Quick facts
- Height
- 840.1m/ 2756ft
- Prominence
- 654 m
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 739 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NT146235
- Parking
- NT151232
- Nearest
- Edinburgh· Dumfries 50km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
reservoir road 20% · moorland path 50% · grassy summit 20% · summit area 10%
The shortest and most popular line starts from the Megget Stone, a small lay-by on the high road from Tweedsmuir to St Mary's Loch. From here the broad grassy ridge runs north over Fans Law to the summit in around 3km — barely more than an hour up. Longer rounds extend over Cramalt Craig and the chain of subsidiary tops to make a 15km circuit with 739m of cumulative ascent. The going throughout is on cropped grass and short heather; navigation is on fence lines.
Terrain
Almost all the going is on close-cropped sheep grass — fast and easy underfoot, with springy peat in patches between the tops. Fence posts and the deer fence north of the summit are useful handrails in mist. The summit itself is broad, completely featureless apart from the trig point and the VOR drum; without GPS or a careful bearing it is easy to walk off in the wrong direction.
In winter
A surprisingly serious hill under snow — the very gentle gradients become a navigation trap in whiteout when the horizon and ground merge. Broad Law catches the brunt of easterly winters and snow drifts can lie over fences for weeks. The Megget Stone road is single-track and exposed; it closes during snowfall and refreezes hard overnight. Carry compass, map and snow gear even when the weather looks benign.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 39m
- Edinburgh1h 14m
OS maps: OS Landranger 72
Mobile signal: Good signal on this accessible Southern Uplands hill — 3 bars on the summit
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:48
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 03:53
- Civil dusk
- 22:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Broad Law.
Around Broad Law on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Broad Law — common questions
- Is Broad Law a hard climb?
- Broad Law is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 739m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-7 hours. Ground conditions: Almost all the going is on close-cropped sheep grass — fast and easy underfoot, with springy peat in patches between the tops.
- How much drop does Broad Law have?
- The drop is 654m: measured from the summit of Broad Law down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Broad Law?
- Park at NT151232 near Edinburgh. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Broad Law?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Broad Law. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Broad Law?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Broad Law?
- Good signal on this accessible Southern Uplands hill — 3 bars on the summit
- Is Broad Law safe in winter?
- A surprisingly serious hill under snow — the very gentle gradients become a navigation trap in whiteout when the horizon and ground merge. Broad Law catches the brunt of easterly winters and snow drifts can lie over fences for weeks. The Megget Stone road is single-track and exposed; it closes during snowfall and refreezes hard overnight. Carry compass, map and snow gear even when the weather looks benign.
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