Donald · Southern Uplands
Windy Standard
Windy Standard lives up to its name — a long moorland top above Carsphairn now ringed with wind turbines. Around the trig pillar the modern landscape of energy meets ancient peat moor, an oddly compelling combination.
Quick facts
- Height
- 697.9m/ 2290ft
- Prominence
- 212 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 572 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS620014
- Parking
- NS632014
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 44km
- 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 60% · forestry edge 25% · heather slopes 15%
Take the A713 north from Carsphairn to the developer's access road by Polmaddie Burn. The wind farm tracks lead almost to the summit; alternatively a longer purist route climbs through forestry from the Afton dam.
Terrain
Engineered hardcore service roads cover most of the route — fast going whether wet or dry. Off-track sections are knee-deep heather and the occasional drainage ditch.
In winter
The wind farm roads are gritted for service vehicles right through winter; combined with the elevation, this makes Windy Standard one of the more reliable winter outings in the Carsphairn group. Ice shed from turbine blades is a real risk on still freezing days.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 31m
- Edinburgh2h 3m
OS maps: OS Landranger 77
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on the broad top; wind turbines visible nearby.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:53
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:59
- Civil dusk
- 22:46
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Windy Standard.
Around Windy Standard on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Windy Standard — common questions
- Is Windy Standard a hard climb?
- Windy Standard is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 572m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Ground conditions: Engineered hardcore service roads cover most of the route — fast going whether wet or dry.
- How much drop does Windy Standard have?
- The drop is 212m: measured from the summit of Windy Standard down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Windy Standard?
- Park at NS632014. 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 Windy Standard?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November on Windy Standard. 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 Windy Standard?
- 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 Windy Standard?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on the broad top; wind turbines visible nearby.
- Is Windy Standard safe in winter?
- The wind farm roads are gritted for service vehicles right through winter; combined with the elevation, this makes Windy Standard one of the more reliable winter outings in the Carsphairn group. Ice shed from turbine blades is a real risk on still freezing days.
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