Marilyn · Galloway
Shaw Hill
A 383m moorland top at NX 59 east of New Galloway above the Water of Ken. Shaw Hill sits on the quieter eastern fringe of the Galloway Forest with views over the Ken valley to Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.
Quick facts
- Height
- 383m/ 1257ft
- Grid ref
- NX 59059 71862
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 39km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · boggy ground 20% · grassy summit 15%
From the B7000 near Mossdale, follow farm tracks east and then strike onto open heather for the final pull to the summit. About 2 hours round trip.
Terrain
Farm tracks then rough heather and grass. No paths on the summit dome.
In winter
Low elevation and inland position make for cold but largely snow-free conditions. Boggy ground firms up in frost and walking is much faster.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 10m
- Edinburgh4h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 77, OS Explorer 319
Mobile signal: Poor. No reliable coverage; EE fails in the Galloway Forest interior.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:37
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:39
- Civil dusk
- 22:56
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Shaw Hill 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
56km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Kirkcudbright
Galloway base — Solway coast, Galloway Forest, Mull of Galloway Trail
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Bladnoch
Wigtown — Galloway's only distillery; Scotland's most southerly
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Shaw Hill — common questions
- How hard is Shaw Hill?
- Shaw Hill is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Farm tracks then rough heather and grass.
- When is the best time to climb Shaw Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Shaw 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 Shaw Hill?
- 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 Shaw Hill?
- Poor. No reliable coverage; EE fails in the Galloway Forest interior.
- Is Shaw Hill safe in winter?
- Low elevation and inland position make for cold but largely snow-free conditions. Boggy ground firms up in frost and walking is much faster.
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