Donald · Galloway
Craignaw
Craignaw is one of the wildest Donalds — a bare, ice-scoured granite ridge at the centre of the Dungeon range with Loch Enoch immediately west and the Round Loch of the Dungeon below. A cairn perched on a huge erratic boulder marks the summit.
Quick facts
- Height
- 646m/ 2119ft
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 484 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NX459833
- Parking
- NX454843
- Nearest city
- Dumfries
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
granite boulders 40% · heather moorland 40% · bog and wet grass 20%
From Loch Trool, the standard line crosses the Buchan Burn and the col south-east of the Merrick to gain the Dungeon. A serious 18km day with around 900m of climb.
Terrain
Bare granite slabs, glacial erratics, and hidden bog. Among the most demanding underfoot of any Donald.
In winter
Granite slabs glaze with ice. Routefinding across the Dungeon in winter cloud is no joke; it is wild country with no fences, no paths, no shelter.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 46m
- Edinburgh3h 34m
OS maps: OS Landranger 77
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better on south-facing slopes.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:47
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 03:53
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Craignaw.
On a long-distance route
Craignaw sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Craignaw on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Ayr station
Ayrshire coast; Galloway approach via bus/car
40km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Kirkcudbright
Galloway base — Solway coast, Galloway Forest, Mull of Galloway Trail
39km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Bladnoch
Wigtown — Galloway's only distillery; Scotland's most southerly
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Craignaw — common questions
- How hard is Craignaw?
- Craignaw is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 484m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: Bare granite slabs, glacial erratics, and hidden bog.
- Where do I park for Craignaw?
- Standard parking is at NX454843 near Glasgow. 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 Craignaw?
- The standard good-weather months for Craignaw 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 Craignaw?
- 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 Craignaw?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better on south-facing slopes.
- Is Craignaw safe in winter?
- Granite slabs glaze with ice. Routefinding across the Dungeon in winter cloud is no joke; it is wild country with no fences, no paths, no shelter.