Donald · Borders
Erie Hill
A subsidiary top on the long undulating watershed between Talla and the Megget — Erie Hill is rarely climbed in its own right, but most parties tagging Hillshaw Head or Gathersnow pass over it. A small mossy cairn sits in a patch of bare ground.
Quick facts
- Height
- 690m/ 2264ft
- Prominence
- 92 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 566 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NT124187
- Parking
- NT128185
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 45km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
grass moorland 80% · heather patches 15% · summit area 5%
Almost always combined with Talla Cleuch Head and Hillshaw Head from the Megget Stone, taking a high traverse across the watershed. Around 11km for the three tops, with 600m of total climb.
Terrain
Smooth ridge grass with occasional peat hag in the dips. A line of old wooden fenceposts marches across the watershed and serves as the main route-finding feature.
In winter
Wreaths of snow build along the fence-line and can drift to a metre after south-westerly gales. In clag the rolling top can confuse — keep the fence on hand at all times.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 41m
- Edinburgh1h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 78
Mobile signal: Reliable up top; EE is dependable. Smooth Moffat Hills area hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:49
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 03:54
- Civil dusk
- 22:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Erie Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Erie Hill — common questions
- Is Erie Hill a hard climb?
- Erie Hill is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 566m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Underfoot: Smooth ridge grass with occasional peat hag in the dips.
- What is Erie Hill's prominence?
- 92m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Erie Hill to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Erie Hill?
- Most walkers start from NT128185. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Erie Hill?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Erie Hill. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Erie Hill dog-friendly?
- 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 Erie Hill?
- Reliable up top; EE is dependable. Smooth Moffat Hills area hill.
- Is Erie Hill safe in winter?
- Wreaths of snow build along the fence-line and can drift to a metre after south-westerly gales. In clag the rolling top can confuse — keep the fence on hand at all times.
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