Graham · Southern Uplands
Blackcraig Hill
Blackcraig Hill (700m) is the highest of the upland sheep walks east of Dalmellington, set in the NS60 square on the Ayrshire-Dumfries-Galloway boundary. Its dark heather slopes earned the name and give an unmistakable silhouette from the A713. The trig pillar on the broad top looks out across the Carsphairn hills to Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and west to Arran.
Quick facts
- Height
- 700.9m/ 2300ft
- Prominence
- 235 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 574 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS647064
- Parking
- NX608981
- 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 70% · heather slopes 20% · summit plateau 10%
Park near the bridge over the Polmaddy Burn south of Dalmellington and follow the farm road past Glenmuck cottage. A quad track climbs the south-west shoulder for nearly 3km, easing through tussock onto the broad south ridge. The trig stands beyond a peaty col on a shallow rise.
Terrain
Quad tracks on the lower shoulder give way to tussock grass and squelchy peat above 500m. The broad summit plateau is criss-crossed with old peat banks and shooting butts. Fence-line on the eastern boundary makes a useful handrail in mist.
In winter
The Carsphairn group rarely sees big Highland snow but eastern winds dump heavy wet snow that ices over and turns the peat banks into traps. The featureless top is a real whiteout risk and there is no shelter for over 4km in any direction.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 25m
- Edinburgh2h 56m
OS maps: OS Landranger 71, OS Landranger 77
Mobile signal: Good signal throughout; EE and Vodafone reliable with views to southern uplands.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:53
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:58
- Civil dusk
- 22:47
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Blackcraig Hill.
Around Blackcraig Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Blackcraig Hill — common questions
- How hard is Blackcraig Hill?
- We grade Blackcraig Hill at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 13km with 574m of climbing; allow 3-6 hours. Underfoot: Quad tracks on the lower shoulder give way to tussock grass and squelchy peat above 500m.
- What is Blackcraig Hill's prominence?
- 235m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Blackcraig Hill to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Blackcraig Hill?
- Most walkers start from NX608981. 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 Blackcraig Hill?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Blackcraig Hill. 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 Blackcraig Hill 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 Blackcraig Hill?
- Good signal throughout; EE and Vodafone reliable with views to southern uplands.
- Is Blackcraig Hill safe in winter?
- The Carsphairn group rarely sees big Highland snow but eastern winds dump heavy wet snow that ices over and turns the peat banks into traps. The featureless top is a real whiteout risk and there is no shelter for over 4km in any direction.
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