Marilyn · Galloway
Cairnharrow
A 456m coastal hill at NX 53 above Gatehouse of Fleet, with one of the finest Solway viewpoints in Galloway. Cairnharrow rises directly from the salt marshes and overlooks Wigtown Bay and the Cree estuary.
Quick facts
- Height
- 456.6m/ 1498ft
- Prominence
- 305 m
- Grid ref
- NX 53337 56102
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 49km
- 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
heather moorland 60% · rough grassland 25% · rocky summit 15%
Park near Anwoth and take the lane and track north-west to the open hill. From the bealach a clear quad track leads to the summit trig — about 2 hours up and down.
Terrain
Bracken-clad lower slopes give way to short grass and granite outcrops higher up. A faint quad track helps on the summit ridge.
In winter
Maritime climate keeps the hill almost snow-free. Frosty mornings give the firmest underfoot conditions and the clearest air for Solway views.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 32m
- Edinburgh4h 58m
OS maps: OS Landranger 83, OS Explorer 312
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Galloway/Machars; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:23
- Sunset
- 21:25
- Civil dawn
- 04:36
- Civil dusk
- 22:12
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cairnharrow on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cairnharrow — common questions
- How difficult is Cairnharrow?
- Cairnharrow carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Bracken-clad lower slopes give way to short grass and granite outcrops higher up.
- What is Cairnharrow's prominence?
- 305m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cairnharrow 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 Cairnharrow?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cairnharrow. 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 Cairnharrow 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 Cairnharrow?
- Poor. Remote Galloway/Machars; limited coverage.
- Is Cairnharrow safe in winter?
- Maritime climate keeps the hill almost snow-free. Frosty mornings give the firmest underfoot conditions and the clearest air for Solway views.
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