Marilyn · Borders
Cacra Hill
Cacra Hill rises to 471m above the Ettrick Water in remote Selkirkshire, set in the rolling sheep country southwest of Ettrick village (NT 31765 17327). The summit gives broad views across the Ettrick Forest toward Ettrick Pen and the Moffat hills.
Quick facts
- Height
- 471.6m/ 1547ft
- Prominence
- 167 m
- Grid ref
- NT 31765 17327
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 53km
- 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
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Standard route
grass moorland 65% · heather 25% · boggy ground 10%
Approach from minor roads in the Ettrick valley near Cacrabank, following sheep tracks and forest edges up grassy slopes to the 471m summit. No waymarked route — navigate by map and fence lines through open hill ground. Allow 2-3 hours for the round trip.
Terrain
Open Selkirkshire grass moorland with patches of heather and rushes. Sheep tracks help on the lower slopes. Wet ground in the cols and around the summit plateau.
In winter
A gentle winter target by Southern Uplands standards. Snow rarely lies long this far south. Short daylight and exposed top can make a compass useful in cloud.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 12m
- Edinburgh1h 20m
OS maps: OS Landranger 79, OS Explorer 331
Mobile signal: Good. Borders; EE reliable and Vodafone also works. Good connectivity here.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:23
- Civil dawn
- 04:27
- Civil dusk
- 22:11
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cacra Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cacra Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Cacra Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Cacra Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Underfoot: Open Selkirkshire grass moorland with patches of heather and rushes.
- What is Cacra Hill's prominence?
- 167m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cacra Hill to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Cacra Hill?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cacra 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 Cacra 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 Cacra Hill?
- Good. Borders; EE reliable and Vodafone also works. Good connectivity here.
- Is Cacra Hill safe in winter?
- A gentle winter target by Southern Uplands standards. Snow rarely lies long this far south. Short daylight and exposed top can make a compass useful in cloud.
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