Donald · Southern Uplands
Tinto
The most-walked hill in Lanarkshire and a brilliant first Donald for Central Belt walkers. Sits in splendid isolation overlooking the upper Clyde valley with a Bronze Age cairn on the summit.
Quick facts
- Height
- 711.6m/ 2335ft
- Prominence
- 443 m
- Distance
- 8 km
- Ascent
- 480 m
- Time
- 2–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS953343
- Parking
- NS964374
- Nearest
- Lanark· Glasgow 47km
- 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 65% · heather slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Standard route from Fallburn car park near Symington. Wide stone path up the north ridge — the busiest hill path in southern Scotland on a sunny weekend.
Terrain
Wide engineered path the entire way. Family-friendly.
In winter
Gets snow Dec-Feb. Path stays obvious. A good winter introduction.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 0m
- Edinburgh1h 0m
OS maps: OS Explorer 335
Mobile signal: First-rate summit signal; all major networks strong. Popular hill with clear sight lines to Glasgow.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:49
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:54
- Civil dusk
- 22:47
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Tinto on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Tinto — common questions
- How difficult is Tinto?
- Tinto carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 8km, 480m of ascent and a 2-3 hour day on the standard route. Ground conditions: Wide engineered path the entire way.
- How much drop does Tinto have?
- The drop is 443m: measured from the summit of Tinto down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Tinto?
- Park at NS964374 near Lanark. 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 Tinto?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November on Tinto. 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 Tinto?
- 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 Tinto?
- First-rate summit signal; all major networks strong. Popular hill with clear sight lines to Glasgow.
- Is Tinto safe in winter?
- Gets snow Dec-Feb. Path stays obvious. A good winter introduction.
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