Marilyn · Borders
Sell Moor Hill
Sell Moor Hill at 423m occupies the rolling NT-prefix moorland between Bowhill and the Ettrick valley east of Selkirk. Quiet country, more frequented by shepherds than hillwalkers. Reaches 423.9 m in the Borders.
Quick facts
- Height
- 423.9m/ 1391ft
- Prominence
- 151 m
- Grid ref
- NT 48038 44465
- Nearest city
- Edinburgh· 37km
- 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
grass moorland 65% · heather 25% · boggy ground 10%
Hill tracks from the Ettrick valley climb past Bowhill plantations onto the moor — fence-lines guide the final pull to the broad summit. Around 9km return, 3 hours.
Terrain
Plantation edges and rough Selkirkshire moorland, with heather and rushy grass on the broad top. No clear path on the final summit dome.
In winter
Sheltered moorland that takes a hard frost well. Snow lying among the heather makes the line awkward to follow without a fence to follow.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 42m
- Edinburgh1h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 73, OS Explorer 338
Mobile signal: Good. Borders; reliable EE coverage throughout.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:13
- Sunset
- 21:23
- Civil dawn
- 04:24
- Civil dusk
- 22:12
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Sell Moor Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sell Moor Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Sell Moor Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sell Moor Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Terrain: Plantation edges and rough Selkirkshire moorland, with heather and rushy grass on the broad top.
- How prominent is Sell Moor Hill?
- Sell Moor Hill has 151m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I climb Sell Moor Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Sell Moor Hill 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 Sell Moor Hill?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Sell Moor Hill?
- Good. Borders; reliable EE coverage throughout.
- Is Sell Moor Hill safe in winter?
- Sheltered moorland that takes a hard frost well. Snow lying among the heather makes the line awkward to follow without a fence to follow.
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