Donald · Borders
Broad Law
The highest hill in the Borders, with a flat-as-a-pancake summit topped by an aircraft beacon. The view of the Tweedsmuir hills rolling away in every direction is the reward. Standard ascent from Peebles covers 7 km with 380 m of climbing.
Quick facts
- Height
- 840.1m/ 2756ft
- Distance
- 7 km
- Ascent
- 380 m
- Time
- 1–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NT146235
- Parking
- NT151203
- Nearest
- Peebles· Dumfries 50km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
grass moorland 75% · heather patches 20% · summit area 5%
Direct ascent from the Megget Stone road pass at the head of Talla Reservoir. Pathless grass climb up the south ridge to the radar beacon. Short by Donald standards but exposed to the prevailing wind throughout the upper section.
Terrain
Grassy slopes, no path required. Featureless summit plateau — compass needed in cloud.
In winter
Bleak in winter. Surprisingly serious in cloud or snow because of the featureless plateau.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 45m
- Edinburgh1h 15m
OS maps: OS Explorer 330
Mobile signal: Excellent signal on summit; strong EE, Vodafone and O2. Telecom mast on the plateau.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:40
- Sunset
- 21:42
- Civil dawn
- 03:45
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 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
- How hard is Broad Law?
- Broad Law is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 7km with 380m of ascent and takes most walkers 1-3 hours. Terrain: Grassy slopes, no path required.
- Where do I park for Broad Law?
- Standard parking is at NT151203 near Peebles. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Broad Law?
- The standard good-weather months for Broad Law are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Broad Law?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Broad Law?
- Excellent signal on summit; strong EE, Vodafone and O2. Telecom mast on the plateau.
- Is Broad Law safe in winter?
- Bleak in winter. Surprisingly serious in cloud or snow because of the featureless plateau.