What difficulty is Drumelzier Law?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Drumelzier Law comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 8km and 530m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Terrain: Sheep-bitten grass on the upper slopes, with bracken and pockets of gorse on the lower farmland.

How prominent is Drumelzier Law?

Drumelzier Law has 97m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.

Where should I park to climb Drumelzier Law?

Standard parking is at NT155307. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.

When should I climb Drumelzier Law?

The standard good-weather months for Drumelzier Law 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 Drumelzier Law?

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

Drumelzier Law

Drumelzier Law overlooks the Tweed valley below Broughton, the western end of the long Manor Hills ridge. A bare patch of trampled grass marks the unmarked top, with the wedge of Tinto rising across Tweeddale to the west.

Quick facts

Height: 668m/ 2192ft
Prominence: 97 m
Distance: ~8 km
Ascent: ~530 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NT149312
Parking: NT155307
Nearest city: Edinburgh· 44km
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%

8km · 530m ascent · 2.5 hrs

Quickest from Drumelzier village, climbing the south-west shoulder onto the ridge. About 8km return with 530m of climb. A boundary wall runs almost continuously up the spur and gives a useful line if cloud drops onto the Manor Hills.

Terrain

Sheep-bitten grass on the upper slopes, with bracken and pockets of gorse on the lower farmland. A dry-stone wall serves as a useful boundary low down.

In winter

Snow gathers on the lee side of the watershed wall. The Tweed valley fog can sit at 400m for days, leaving the summit in sun above an inversion.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Drumelzier Law. 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

Glasgow2h 33m
Edinburgh1h 3m

Parking: NT155307

OS maps: OS Landranger 72

Mobile signal: Decent up top; EE seldom drops. Tweeddale and Biggar moorland viewpoint.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

15h 14mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:16
Sunset: 20:12
Civil dawn: 05:37
Civil dusk: 20:51

NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026

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Around Drumelzier Law on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Tweedbank station

Borders Railway terminus; Eildon Hills, Melrose, Tweed Valley

41km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Drumelzier Law — common questions

What difficulty is Drumelzier Law?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Drumelzier Law comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 8km and 530m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Terrain: Sheep-bitten grass on the upper slopes, with bracken and pockets of gorse on the lower farmland.
How prominent is Drumelzier Law?: Drumelzier Law has 97m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
Where should I park to climb Drumelzier Law?: Standard parking is at NT155307. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
When should I climb Drumelzier Law?: The standard good-weather months for Drumelzier Law 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 Drumelzier Law?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
What's mobile reception like on Drumelzier Law?: Decent up top; EE seldom drops. Tweeddale and Biggar moorland viewpoint.
Is Drumelzier Law safe in winter?: Snow gathers on the lee side of the watershed wall. The Tweed valley fog can sit at 400m for days, leaving the summit in sun above an inversion.

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