Is Chapelgill Hill a hard climb?

Chapelgill Hill is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 572m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Quad-bike trace links Chapelgill to the parent hill — pleasant going in dry weather.

How prominent is Chapelgill Hill?

Chapelgill Hill has 109m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.

Where should I park to climb Chapelgill Hill?

Standard parking is at NT056299. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.

When should I climb Chapelgill Hill?

The standard good-weather months for Chapelgill Hill are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Chapelgill Hill?

On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.

By Gary

Photo: wrobison / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Donald · Borders

Chapelgill Hill

Chapelgill is a neat little outlier south of Culter Fell, sandwiched between Culter Glen and the headwaters of the Holms Water. The summit is unmarked — just a patch of trampled bare earth — but the perspective back along the Culter Fell ridge is one of the best in South Lanarkshire.

Quick facts

Height: 697.8m/ 2289ft
Prominence: 109 m
Distance: ~13 km
Ascent: ~572 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NT067303
Parking: NT056299
Nearest city: Edinburgh· 48km
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 80% · heather patches 15% · summit area 5%

13km · 572m ascent · 3.6 hrs

Combine it with Culter Fell in the obvious round from Birthwood, dropping south off Culter's summit over Cardon Hill and Hudderstone to claim Chapelgill, then back down by the Holms Water tributaries.

Terrain

Quad-bike trace links Chapelgill to the parent hill — pleasant going in dry weather. The summit itself is bald earth and short cropped sward where the sheep concentrate.

In winter

A snow-shower magnet in cold polar maritime air — bright squalls of graupel hammer the Culter ridge before sun returns minutes later. Bring waterproof shells and goggles for these conditions.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Chapelgill Hill. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Southern Uplands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow1h 24m
Edinburgh1h 8m

Parking: NT056299

OS maps: OS Landranger 72

Current conditions

Daylight Today

15h 13mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:17
Sunset: 20:12
Civil dawn: 05:38
Civil dusk: 20:51

NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026

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Around Chapelgill Hill on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Edinburgh Haymarket

West-end Edinburgh; Highland departures; Murrayfield

46km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Chapelgill Hill — common questions

Is Chapelgill Hill a hard climb?: Chapelgill Hill is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 572m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Quad-bike trace links Chapelgill to the parent hill — pleasant going in dry weather.
How prominent is Chapelgill Hill?: Chapelgill Hill has 109m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
Where should I park to climb Chapelgill Hill?: Standard parking is at NT056299. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
When should I climb Chapelgill Hill?: The standard good-weather months for Chapelgill Hill are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Chapelgill Hill?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
Is Chapelgill Hill safe in winter?: A snow-shower magnet in cold polar maritime air — bright squalls of graupel hammer the Culter ridge before sun returns minutes later. Bring waterproof shells and goggles for these conditions.

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