What difficulty is Wauk Hill?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Wauk Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Forestry tracks ease the lower slopes; the upper hill carries short heather and grass with occasional rocky outcrops.

How much drop does Wauk Hill have?

The drop is 220m: measured from the summit of Wauk 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 Wauk Hill?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Wauk 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 Wauk Hill?

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

By Gary

Photo: wrobison / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Galloway

Wauk Hill

Wauk Hill caps a 357m moor on the NX-grid watershed between the Cairn and Nith valleys north of Moniaive. A quiet Dumfriesshire summit, it gives long views without big effort.

Quick facts

Height: 357m/ 1171ft
Prominence: 220 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NX 84127 90942
Nearest city: Dumfries· 20km
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 60% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 10%

GPX needed

Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Use the forestry roads from the Glencairn end of Moniaive or the back lane towards Tynron, then break uphill onto open moorland for the final pull. About two and a half hours covers the round.

Terrain

Forestry tracks ease the lower slopes; the upper hill carries short heather and grass with occasional rocky outcrops.

In winter

A reliable shoulder-season walk. The forest section stays sheltered while the open top can pick up snow plastering during easterlies.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Wauk 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 2m
Edinburgh3h 32m

OS maps: OS Landranger 78, OS Explorer 321

Mobile signal: Good. Dumfriesshire; EE reliable. Signal strong from nearby mast.

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

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Around Wauk Hill on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Ayr station

Ayrshire coast; Galloway approach via bus/car

59km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Kirkcudbright

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

43km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Wauk Hill — common questions

What difficulty is Wauk Hill?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Wauk Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Forestry tracks ease the lower slopes; the upper hill carries short heather and grass with occasional rocky outcrops.
How much drop does Wauk Hill have?: The drop is 220m: measured from the summit of Wauk 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 Wauk Hill?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Wauk 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 Wauk 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 Wauk Hill?: Good. Dumfriesshire; EE reliable. Signal strong from nearby mast.
Is Wauk Hill safe in winter?: A reliable shoulder-season walk. The forest section stays sheltered while the open top can pick up snow plastering during easterlies.

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