Marilyn · Borders
Turner Cleuch Law
A 551m grassy summit between the Yarrow and Megget waters, hidden among the rolling hills above Cappercleuch. Quiet country with views across St Mary's Loch to Bowerhope Law. Borders summit at 551 m.
Quick facts
- Height
- 551m/ 1808ft
- Prominence
- 179 m
- Grid ref
- NT 28739 20444
- Parking
- NT 24000 23000
- Nearest city
- Edinburgh· 54km
- 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
heather moorland 55% · grass slopes 35% · boggy ground 10%
Most walkers start from the road at Cappercleuch, climbing grassy fells for a 3-4 hour round trip. The route can be linked with The Wiss across the watershed for a fuller day.
Terrain
Pathless grassy slopes throughout — typical Ettrick Forest country with sheep-grazed turf and occasional peat hag. Easy going on a dry day.
In winter
Snow can drift on the broad summit but the hill is rarely seriously banked. Wet underfoot conditions become firmer once frozen.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 4m
- Edinburgh1h 14m
OS maps: OS Landranger 73, OS Explorer 330, OS Explorer 337
Mobile signal: Good. Scottish Borders; EE coverage strong. Good for navigation apps.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:23
- Civil dawn
- 04:27
- Civil dusk
- 22:11
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Turner Cleuch Law on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Turner Cleuch Law — common questions
- What difficulty is Turner Cleuch Law?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Turner Cleuch Law comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Underfoot: Pathless grassy slopes throughout — typical Ettrick Forest country with sheep-grazed turf and occasional peat hag.
- What is Turner Cleuch Law's prominence?
- 179m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Turner Cleuch Law to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- Where do I park for Turner Cleuch Law?
- Most walkers start from NT 24000 23000. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Turner Cleuch Law?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Turner Cleuch Law. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Turner Cleuch Law dog-friendly?
- 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 Turner Cleuch Law?
- Good. Scottish Borders; EE coverage strong. Good for navigation apps.
- Is Turner Cleuch Law safe in winter?
- Snow can drift on the broad summit but the hill is rarely seriously banked. Wet underfoot conditions become firmer once frozen.
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