Donald · Borders
Capel Fell
Capel Fell looks south to the head of Eskdalemuir from the south rim of the Ettrick basin. The Southern Upland Way crosses the watershed just west of the cairn — a meeting point of long-distance walkers and the few hill-baggers who pass this way.
Quick facts
- Height
- 678.3m/ 2225ft
- Prominence
- 159 m
- Grid ref
- NT163069
- Parking
- NT171063
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 36km
- 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
grass moorland 75% · forestry edge 15% · heather patches 10%
From Over Phawhope bothy a short steep climb gains the watershed fence at Ettrick Head. Capel Fell is then a quick out-and-back south along the ridge. About 7km return with 380m of climb from the bothy.
Terrain
Mostly cropped grass on the ridge with the well-trodden Southern Upland Way as a useful intermittent path. Some peat-hag patches in the dip east of Ettrick Head.
In winter
Wind funnels through Ettrick Head in westerly storms — a stripped, windswept summit where snow rarely builds deeply. The Way markers are still useful in cloud.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 44m
- Edinburgh2h 37m
OS maps: OS Landranger 79
Mobile signal: Decent up top; count on EE. Fine views across the Border hills.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:49
- Sunset
- 21:49
- Civil dawn
- 03:55
- Civil dusk
- 22:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Capel Fell.
Around Capel Fell on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Capel Fell — common questions
- Is Capel Fell a hard climb?
- Capel Fell is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Mostly cropped grass on the ridge with the well-trodden Southern Upland Way as a useful intermittent path.
- What is Capel Fell's prominence?
- 159m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Capel Fell to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Capel Fell?
- Most walkers start from NT171063. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Capel Fell?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Capel Fell. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Capel Fell dog-friendly?
- 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 Capel Fell?
- Decent up top; count on EE. Fine views across the Border hills.
- Is Capel Fell safe in winter?
- Wind funnels through Ettrick Head in westerly storms — a stripped, windswept summit where snow rarely builds deeply. The Way markers are still useful in cloud.
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