Sub-Marilyn · Borders
Fastheugh Hill
A 501m grassy summit on the south side of the Yarrow Water near Yarrowford, lying south of the Southern Upland Way ridge between Minch Moor and Broomy Law. Views into the Ettrick Forest beyond.
Quick facts
- Height
- 501.7m/ 1646ft
- Prominence
- 145 m
- Grid ref
- NT 39329 27710
- Parking
- NT 40500 29500
- Nearest city
- Edinburgh· 48km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Sub-Marilyn: 145m of drop — misses the 150m Marilyn cut by 5m. We keep it on the list as a near-miss.
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
grass moorland 65% · heather 25% · boggy ground 10%
A short walk from the B7039 climbs steep pasture and forestry edge for 2-3 hours return. The ridge can be linked north into the SUW for a longer outing.
Terrain
Steep grassy lower flanks, easing onto a broad open summit. Plantation edges to negotiate on the way up.
In winter
Snow rarely lies long on these south-facing slopes. The steep grass becomes slippery in frost — care needed on the descent.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 26m
- Edinburgh1h 12m
OS maps: OS Landranger 73, OS Explorer 337
Mobile signal: Good. Borders; EE and Vodafone equally reliable. Good coverage on summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:14
- Sunset
- 21:23
- Civil dawn
- 04:26
- Civil dusk
- 22:11
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Fastheugh Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Fastheugh Hill — common questions
- Is Fastheugh Hill a hard climb?
- Fastheugh Hill is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Steep grassy lower flanks, easing onto a broad open summit.
- How prominent is Fastheugh Hill?
- Fastheugh Hill has 145m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. That leaves it 5m short of the 150m drop a Marilyn needs — DoBIH classes it a sub-Marilyn, a near-miss rather than a full Marilyn.
- Where should I park to climb Fastheugh Hill?
- Standard parking is at NT 40500 29500. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Fastheugh Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Fastheugh Hill are most of the year. 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 Fastheugh Hill?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Fastheugh Hill?
- Good. Borders; EE and Vodafone equally reliable. Good coverage on summit.
- Is Fastheugh Hill safe in winter?
- Snow rarely lies long on these south-facing slopes. The steep grass becomes slippery in frost — care needed on the descent.
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