Donald · Borders
White Coomb
The highest of the Moffat Hills, sitting above the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall and the hanging corrie holding Loch Skeen. A brilliant winter outing on a list usually thought of as gentle, with steep cornice-prone edges in cold weather.
Quick facts
- Height
- 821.6m/ 2696ft
- Prominence
- 375 m
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 690 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NT163150
- Parking
- NT187144
- Nearest
- Moffat· Dumfries 43km
- 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 corrie edge 10%
Path from the NTS Grey Mare's Tail car park, climbing past the waterfall to Loch Skeen, then up the steep grass slopes to the summit dome.
Terrain
Good path to the loch. Steep grassy ascent above. Pathless on the summit plateau.
In winter
Gets full winter conditions in cold spells. Cornices form on the lee edges.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 35m
- Edinburgh1h 20m
OS maps: OS Explorer 330
Mobile signal: Good summit signal; EE seldom drops. Prominent viewpoint above the Moffat Hills.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:49
- Sunset
- 21:49
- Civil dawn
- 03:54
- Civil dusk
- 22:44
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from White Coomb.
Around White Coomb on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
White Coomb — common questions
- How difficult is White Coomb?
- White Coomb carries a 2/5 (moderate) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 11km, 690m of ascent and a 3-5 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: Good path to the loch.
- What is White Coomb's prominence?
- 375m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links White Coomb to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for White Coomb?
- Most walkers start from NT187144 near Moffat. 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 White Coomb?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on White Coomb. 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 White Coomb 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 White Coomb?
- Good summit signal; EE seldom drops. Prominent viewpoint above the Moffat Hills.
- Is White Coomb safe in winter?
- Gets full winter conditions in cold spells. Cornices form on the lee edges.
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