Donald · Galloway
Curleywee
Curleywee — 'the curlew's call' in old Gaelic — is the rocky pyramid above Loch Dee in the Minnigaff hills. Its small summit perches on craggy granite, more like a Highland top than the typical Donald, and the look back to Lamachan from the cairn is the finest view in the group.
Quick facts
- Height
- 674.4m/ 2213ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 553 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NX454769
- Parking
- NX450768
- Nearest city
- Dumfries
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
granite boulders 40% · heather moorland 40% · grass moorland 20%
From House on the Brae or from Loch Trool, follow forest roads to the foot of the south ridge then climb a steepening rock-and-grass nose to the cairn. About 12km return with 550m of climb.
Terrain
Wet forest tracks low down, then a fine ridge of rough grass studded with granite slabs. The summit cone has a tiny pocket of mild scrambling on bare rock.
In winter
Granite slabs hold black ice in freeze-thaw and the summit pyramid becomes a serious objective in winter conditions — crampons useful on the upper rocks.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 54m
- Edinburgh3h 41m
OS maps: OS Landranger 77
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent; limited coverage in the Galloway interior.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:47
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 03:53
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Curleywee.
Around Curleywee 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
46km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Kirkcudbright
Galloway base — Solway coast, Galloway Forest, Mull of Galloway Trail
35km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Bladnoch
Wigtown — Galloway's only distillery; Scotland's most southerly
23km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Curleywee — common questions
- How hard is Curleywee?
- Curleywee is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 553m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Wet forest tracks low down, then a fine ridge of rough grass studded with granite slabs.
- Where do I park for Curleywee?
- Standard parking is at NX450768 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 Curleywee?
- The standard good-weather months for Curleywee 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 Curleywee?
- 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 Curleywee?
- Moderate. EE intermittent; limited coverage in the Galloway interior.
- Is Curleywee safe in winter?
- Granite slabs hold black ice in freeze-thaw and the summit pyramid becomes a serious objective in winter conditions — crampons useful on the upper rocks.