How difficult is Ettrick Pen?

Ettrick Pen carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 9km, 480m of ascent and a 3-6 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: Way-marked path on cropped grass throughout.

What is Ettrick Pen's prominence?

356m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ettrick Pen to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Ettrick Pen?

Most walkers start from NT201160. 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 Ettrick Pen?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Ettrick Pen. 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 Ettrick Pen dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Borders

Ettrick Pen

Ettrick Pen (691m) is the rounded grassy summit at the head of Ettrick Water, set in the NT10 square on the Dumfries-Borders boundary. Pen is Brittonic for head — a reference to its position at the watershed of three rivers, the Ettrick, the Annan and the Esk. The Southern Upland Way crosses just below its summit.

Quick facts

Height: 691.8m/ 2270ft
Prominence: 356 m
Distance: ~9 km
Ascent: ~480 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NT199076
Parking: NT201160
Nearest city: Dumfries· 38km
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 75% · heather slopes 15% · summit plateau 10%

9km · 480m ascent · 2.6 hrs

From the parking at the Potburn road end follow the Southern Upland Way towards Ettrick Head, then leave it for the forest break onto the open ridge. A final pull over tussocky grass leads to the large summit cairn — about 9km return with some 480m of climb. Return the same way, or drop past Over Phawhope bothy for variety.

Terrain

Way-marked path on cropped grass throughout. The summit area is smooth and firm with only minor peat. Fence-line on the watershed gives an unmissable handrail in cloud.

In winter

The Borders hills catch easterly snow that lies long on this NT10 ridge. Drifting along the fence-line can mask the path completely. Excellent winter walking on firm short turf when the snow lies but no avalanche risk on these gentle gradients.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ettrick Pen. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Southern Uplands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow2h 47m
Edinburgh2h 35m

Parking: NT201160

OS maps: OS Landranger 79

Mobile signal: Good summit signal; EE reliable with open views across the Ettrick Forest.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 51mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:40
Sunset: 18:18
Civil dawn: 07:04
Civil dusk: 18:55

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Ettrick Pen.

Two-hill day
Ettrick Pen + Capel Fell
Link two Ettrick hills in a classic upland traverse
16km · 750m ascent · 5.5 hrs

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Around Ettrick Pen on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Tweedbank station

Borders Railway terminus; Eildon Hills, Melrose, Tweed Valley

45km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Ettrick Pen — common questions

How difficult is Ettrick Pen?: Ettrick Pen carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 9km, 480m of ascent and a 3-6 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: Way-marked path on cropped grass throughout.
What is Ettrick Pen's prominence?: 356m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ettrick Pen to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Ettrick Pen?: Most walkers start from NT201160. 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 Ettrick Pen?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Ettrick Pen. 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 Ettrick Pen 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 Ettrick Pen?: Good summit signal; EE reliable with open views across the Ettrick Forest.
Is Ettrick Pen safe in winter?: The Borders hills catch easterly snow that lies long on this NT10 ridge. Drifting along the fence-line can mask the path completely. Excellent winter walking on firm short turf when the snow lies but no avalanche risk on these gentle gradients.

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