Sub-Marilyn · Galloway
Steygail
Steygail tops out at 573m on the NS-grid hills bordering the Douglas Water in southern Lanarkshire. Its bracketed shoulder above the Glespin road gives the summit more presence than the modest height suggests.
Quick facts
- Height
- 573m/ 1880ft
- Prominence
- 145 m
- Grid ref
- NS 88869 08427
- Nearest city
- Dumfries· 33km
- 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
heather moorland 55% · grass slopes 35% · rocky summit 10%
A direct line from Glespin or from the forestry tracks at Parishholm climbs grassy slopes through forestry breaks onto the rounded top. Two to three hours suffice; expect rough underfoot on the open moor sections.
Terrain
A mixture of conifer plantation, felled blocks, and tussocky moorland. Forestry edges can be tangled where windblow has left debris.
In winter
Snow cover is sporadic and rarely deep, but the surrounding plantations funnel wind into bitter blasts. Felled ground freezes into uneven traps.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 49m
- Edinburgh2h 7m
OS maps: OS Landranger 71, OS Landranger 78, OS Explorer 329
Mobile signal: Good. South Lanarkshire; EE reasonable.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:18
- Sunset
- 21:25
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:13
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Steygail on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Steygail — common questions
- What difficulty is Steygail?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Steygail comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Ground conditions: A mixture of conifer plantation, felled blocks, and tussocky moorland.
- How much drop does Steygail have?
- The drop is 145m: measured from the summit of Steygail down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. 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.
- What's the best month to climb Steygail?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Steygail. 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 Steygail?
- 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 Steygail?
- Good. South Lanarkshire; EE reasonable.
- Is Steygail safe in winter?
- Snow cover is sporadic and rarely deep, but the surrounding plantations funnel wind into bitter blasts. Felled ground freezes into uneven traps.
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