Marilyn · Borders
Black Mount
Black Mount at 516m straddles the Peeblesshire-Lanarkshire border in the NT-prefix watershed country south of Dolphinton. A solitary rounded hill that looks bigger than its modest height suggests. Borders summit at 516 m.
Quick facts
- Height
- 516m/ 1693ft
- Prominence
- 258 m
- Grid ref
- NT 07995 45965
- Nearest city
- Edinburgh· 33km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
grass moorland 60% · heather 30% · boggy ground 10%
A field path and farm track from Dolphinton climbs to the south ridge, then onto the trig pillar via fence-line. Roughly 8km return, 3 hours.
Terrain
Rough upland pasture and rushes on the lower slopes, then a grass and heather mix on the broad summit dome. Stiles where the route crosses field boundaries.
In winter
Isolated position makes Black Mount more exposed than its height implies. Hard frost firms up the rushy ground nicely for winter access.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 4m
- Edinburgh1h 57m
OS maps: OS Landranger 72, OS Explorer 336
Mobile signal: Good. Peeblesshire/Lanarkshire; EE reliable.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:25
- Civil dawn
- 04:27
- Civil dusk
- 22:14
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Black Mount on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Black Mount — common questions
- Is Black Mount a hard climb?
- Black Mount is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Rough upland pasture and rushes on the lower slopes, then a grass and heather mix on the broad summit dome.
- How prominent is Black Mount?
- Black Mount has 258m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I climb Black Mount?
- The standard good-weather months for Black Mount are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Black Mount?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Black Mount?
- Good. Peeblesshire/Lanarkshire; EE reliable.
- Is Black Mount safe in winter?
- Isolated position makes Black Mount more exposed than its height implies. Hard frost firms up the rushy ground nicely for winter access.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.