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
- Distance
- 7 km
- Ascent
- 320 m
- Time
- 1–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS890107
- Parking
- NS872129
- Nearest city
- Dumfries
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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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
- 04:43
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 03:48
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 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
- How hard is Lowther Hill?
- 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. Terrain: Tarmac road option for the lazy.
- Where do I park for Lowther Hill?
- Standard parking is at NS872129 near Dumfries. 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 Lowther Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Lowther Hill are most of the year. 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 Lowther Hill?
- 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 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.