Marilyn · Galloway
Craiglee
A 531m granite top at NX 46 above the south end of Loch Doon, sitting on the western edge of the Galloway Forest. This Craiglee gives a quick ramble onto open hill with the Awful Hand ridge filling the eastern view.
Quick facts
- Height
- 531m/ 1742ft
- Grid ref
- NX 46164 80134
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 51km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 60% · boggy ground 25% · rocky summit 15%
Park near the Loch Doon dam and follow the lochside track south before striking up through forest breaks onto the open ridge. The summit cairn lies at the south end of a broad heather plateau — about 2 to 3 hours up and down.
Terrain
Plantation rides give way to heather and rocky outcrops; the granite bedrock keeps the upper hill drier than typical Galloway moor.
In winter
Loch Doon stays largely snow-free below 400m. Higher up expect occasional verglas on the granite slabs; carry microspikes only for hard frost spells.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 2m
- Edinburgh4h 52m
OS maps: OS Landranger 77, OS Explorer 318, OS Explorer 319
Mobile signal: Very poor. No mobile signal; carry a PLB on this remote Galloway hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:37
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:39
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Craiglee on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Ayr station
Ayrshire coast; Galloway approach via bus/car
44km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Kirkcudbright
Galloway base — Solway coast, Galloway Forest, Mull of Galloway Trail
37km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Bladnoch
Wigtown — Galloway's only distillery; Scotland's most southerly
26km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Craiglee — common questions
- How hard is Craiglee?
- Craiglee is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Plantation rides give way to heather and rocky outcrops; the granite bedrock keeps the upper hill drier than typical Galloway moor.
- When is the best time to climb Craiglee?
- The standard good-weather months for Craiglee 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 Craiglee?
- 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 Craiglee?
- Very poor. No mobile signal; carry a PLB on this remote Galloway hill.
- Is Craiglee safe in winter?
- Loch Doon stays largely snow-free below 400m. Higher up expect occasional verglas on the granite slabs; carry microspikes only for hard frost spells.
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