How much drop does Killyleoch Hill have?

The drop is 152m: measured from the summit of Killyleoch Hill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.

What's the best month to climb Killyleoch Hill?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Killyleoch Hill. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.

Can dogs go up Killyleoch Hill?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Colin Kinnear / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

Submit a photo

Marilyn · Galloway

Killyleoch Hill

A 239m Marilyn rising from the Urr Water lowlands east of Castle Douglas, in the NX prefix country of Dumfriesshire. Modest in height, but the prominence above the surrounding rough pasture lets the summit feel like a real high point.

Quick facts

Height: 239.7m/ 786ft
Prominence: 152 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NX 87859 82034
Nearest city: Dumfries· 11km
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

Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.

Submit your GPX

Standard route

heather moorland 60% · rough grassland 30% · rocky summit 10%

GPX needed

Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

A short walk from minor roads near the Urr Water onto rough Galloway pasture and bracken-banked slopes leading up to the 239m summit. Best tackled in under two hours when the bracken is down.

Terrain

Rough Dumfriesshire pasture, gorse and bracken on the lower flanks, with stiles and fence-lines to negotiate before reaching open ground near the summit.

In winter

A low-altitude winter option close to the Solway coast. Snow rarely lingers, but the bracken slopes can be slick after frost and the lower fields turn muddy.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Killyleoch Hill. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Southern Uplands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow2h 17m
Edinburgh3h 36m

OS maps: OS Landranger 78, OS Explorer 321

Mobile signal: Good. Dumfriesshire; EE reliable on summit and approach.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 06mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:45
Sunset: 19:37
Civil dawn: 06:08
Civil dusk: 20:14

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

Got a photo of Killyleoch Hill?

30 seconds, helps other walkers.

Submit a photo

Walked it with a GPX?

From your watch or phone.

Submit GPX

Trip report?

Share what it was actually like.

Get in touch →

Around Killyleoch Hill on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Kirkcudbright

Galloway base — Solway coast, Galloway Forest, Mull of Galloway Trail

37km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Killyleoch Hill — common questions

What difficulty is Killyleoch Hill?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Killyleoch Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Rough Dumfriesshire pasture, gorse and bracken on the lower flanks, with stiles and fence-lines to negotiate before reaching open ground near the summit.
How much drop does Killyleoch Hill have?: The drop is 152m: measured from the summit of Killyleoch Hill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
What's the best month to climb Killyleoch Hill?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Killyleoch Hill. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
Can dogs go up Killyleoch Hill?: Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
Will I get phone signal on Killyleoch Hill?: Good. Dumfriesshire; EE reliable on summit and approach.
Is Killyleoch Hill safe in winter?: A low-altitude winter option close to the Solway coast. Snow rarely lingers, but the bracken slopes can be slick after frost and the lower fields turn muddy.

Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly

One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.