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
- Prominence
- 197 m
- Grid ref
- NX 46164 80134
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 51km
- 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
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: Close to none. Phones are useless here; bring a PLB on this remote Galloway hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:22
- Sunset
- 21:26
- Civil dawn
- 04:35
- Civil dusk
- 22:14
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 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 difficult is Craiglee?
- Craiglee carries a 2/5 (moderate) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Plantation rides give way to heather and rocky outcrops; the granite bedrock keeps the upper hill drier than typical Galloway moor.
- What is Craiglee's prominence?
- 197m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Craiglee 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 Craiglee?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Craiglee. 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 Craiglee 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 Craiglee?
- Close to none. Phones are useless here; bring 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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