Is Culter Fell a hard climb?

Culter Fell is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 613m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Ground conditions: Estate track to the col, then heathery grass and a faint quad-bike trace up the broad shoulder.

How much drop does Culter Fell have?

The drop is 350m: measured from the summit of Culter Fell down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Culter Fell?

Park at NT038157. 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 Culter Fell?

Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Culter Fell. 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 Culter Fell?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Donald · Borders

Culter Fell

Culter Fell is the highest point in South Lanarkshire, looking down on the Clyde valley and the village of Coulter. A white trig pillar crowns the rounded summit. From the top the eye runs up the Tweed to the Manor Hills and out to Tinto and the western Ochils.

Quick facts

Height: 748.4m/ 2455ft
Prominence: 350 m
Distance: ~14 km
Ascent: ~613 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NT052290
Parking: NT038157
Nearest city: Edinburgh· 49km
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

heather moorland 60% · grass moorland 30% · rocky summit 10%

14km · 613m ascent · 3.8 hrs

The shortest line starts at Birthwood farm in Culter Glen, taking the estate track east and breaking off up the Hudderstone shoulder. The fine ridge continuation south to Chapelgill makes a four-hour horseshoe.

Terrain

Estate track to the col, then heathery grass and a faint quad-bike trace up the broad shoulder. The fence line on the south ridge is a useful guide when the cloud is down on the top.

In winter

Sits high enough to take a proper coat of snow when frontal systems track south. The summit dome is featureless under white-out; ice glazes the trig pillar and the fence wires sing in the wind. Carry full winter gear December to March.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Culter Fell. 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 10m

Parking: NT038157

OS maps: OS Landranger 72

Mobile signal: Strong summit reception; EE works well. Prominent Lanarkshire hill with clear sight lines.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 51mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:42
Sunset: 18:18
Civil dawn: 07:05
Civil dusk: 18:56

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Culter Fell.

Two-hill day
Culter Fell + Gathersnow Hill
Link two Lanarkshire Donalds in a circular from Culter
18km · 750m ascent · 5 hrs

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Around Culter Fell 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

48km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Culter Fell — common questions

Is Culter Fell a hard climb?: Culter Fell is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 613m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Ground conditions: Estate track to the col, then heathery grass and a faint quad-bike trace up the broad shoulder.
How much drop does Culter Fell have?: The drop is 350m: measured from the summit of Culter Fell down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Culter Fell?: Park at NT038157. 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 Culter Fell?: Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Culter Fell. 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 Culter Fell?: 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 Culter Fell?: Strong summit reception; EE works well. Prominent Lanarkshire hill with clear sight lines.
Is Culter Fell safe in winter?: Sits high enough to take a proper coat of snow when frontal systems track south. The summit dome is featureless under white-out; ice glazes the trig pillar and the fence wires sing in the wind. Carry full winter gear December to March.

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