What difficulty is Herman Law?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Herman Law comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 12km and 460m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Pastoral grass and shallow tussock characterise the lower slopes; the watershed rolls broadly with peat hags between the higher tops.

What is Herman Law's prominence?

31m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Herman Law to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Herman Law?

Most walkers start from NT212153. 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 Herman Law?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Herman Law. 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 Herman Law dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Walter Baxter / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Donald · Borders

Herman Law

Herman Law (614m) is the eastern bookend of the Ettrick Hills, a quiet grassy top above the headwaters of the Tima Water. A fence junction marks the summit. The hill is rarely climbed by itself — most parties take it in on a long traverse from Bell Craig through Andrewhinney Hill, or from the Ettrick valley as part of the watershed round. The views east over the Yarrow toward St Mary's Loch are the highlight.

Quick facts

Height: 614.4m/ 2016ft
Prominence: 31 m
Distance: ~12 km
Ascent: ~460 m
Time: 3–5 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NT213156
Parking: NT212153
Nearest city: Dumfries· 46km
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%

12km · 460m ascent · 3.2 hrs

A useful starting point is the road end at the head of the Tima Water (NT212153 area, on the Ettrick–Yarrow back road), from where a fence climbs directly to the summit junction in 12km with 460m of ascent. The going is open hill pasture and short heather, with the fence as a continuous handrail. Many parties extend along the watershed to Trowgrain Middle and Andrewhinney for a longer ridge.

Terrain

Pastoral grass and shallow tussock characterise the lower slopes; the watershed rolls broadly with peat hags between the higher tops. The fence line that meets at the summit junction provides reliable navigation, and the open ground is accessible year-round. The Ettrick side falls more steeply than the Yarrow side and cleuchs make poor descent lines.

In winter

The eastern Ettrick Hills catch the full force of easterly haar and northerly continentals — Herman Law's broad top becomes a featureless white plateau in poor weather, with only the fence to fix a position on. Cornices form along the steep northern edges into Tima Burn. Visibility is the constant challenge.

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

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Herman 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 53m
Edinburgh1h 23m

Parking: NT212153

OS maps: OS Landranger 79

Mobile signal: Good summit signal; EE is dependable. Fine Yarrow Water viewpoint.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 51mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:41
Sunset: 18:18
Civil dawn: 07:04
Civil dusk: 18:55

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Herman 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

39km 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.

Herman Law — common questions

What difficulty is Herman Law?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Herman Law comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 12km and 460m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Pastoral grass and shallow tussock characterise the lower slopes; the watershed rolls broadly with peat hags between the higher tops.
What is Herman Law's prominence?: 31m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Herman Law to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Herman Law?: Most walkers start from NT212153. 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 Herman Law?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Herman Law. 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 Herman Law 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 Herman Law?: Good summit signal; EE is dependable. Fine Yarrow Water viewpoint.
Is Herman Law safe in winter?: The eastern Ettrick Hills catch the full force of easterly haar and northerly continentals — Herman Law's broad top becomes a featureless white plateau in poor weather, with only the fence to fix a position on. Cornices form along the steep northern edges into Tima Burn. Visibility is the constant challenge.

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