Donald · Southern Uplands
Lowther Hill
Topped by the famous radar 'golf ball', this is the highest hill in the Lowther range and the easiest big hill in the Southern Uplands — there is a tarmac access road to the summit.
Quick facts
- Height
- 725m/ 2379ft
- Prominence
- 37 m
- Distance
- 7 km
- Ascent
- 320 m
- Time
- 1–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS890107
- Parking
- NS872129
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 36km
- 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 70% · heather slopes 20% · summit infrastructure 10%
From Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland. Either follow the Southern Upland Way or simply walk the access road to the summit. About 7 km, 320 m of ascent, allow 2.5 hours.
Terrain
Tarmac road option for the lazy. Path option through grass and heather.
In winter
The radar station road is gritted in winter — one of the few hills you can do in trainers in February.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 15m
- Edinburgh1h 15m
OS maps: OS Explorer 329
Mobile signal: Excellent signal on summit; strong on all networks. Radar station and telecom infrastructure here.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:57
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:03
- Civil dusk
- 22:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 17 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Lowther Hill.
On a long-distance route
Lowther Hill sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Lowther Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Lowther Hill — common questions
- Is Lowther Hill a hard climb?
- Lowther Hill is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 7km with 320m of ascent and takes most walkers 1-3 hours. Ground conditions: Tarmac road option for the lazy.
- How much drop does Lowther Hill have?
- The drop is 37m: measured from the summit of Lowther Hill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Lowther Hill?
- Park at NS872129. 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 Lowther Hill?
- Aim for most of the year on Lowther Hill. 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 Lowther Hill?
- 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 Lowther Hill?
- Excellent signal on summit; strong on all networks. Radar station and telecom infrastructure here.
- Is Lowther Hill safe in winter?
- The radar station road is gritted in winter — one of the few hills you can do in trainers in February.
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