Is White Hill a hard climb?

White Hill is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Galloway pastoral land — improved pasture, stiles and farm tracks with a short heather and grass top.

What is White Hill's prominence?

164m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links White Hill 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.

When is the best time to climb White Hill?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on White Hill. 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 White Hill dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Colin Kinnear / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Galloway

White Hill

White Hill is a 249m hill in Dumfries and Galloway above the Lochmaben lochs and the Annan valley (NY 03838 83330). A quiet pastoral top with views across the Solway plain to Criffel and toward the Lowther Hills.

Quick facts

Height: 249.7m/ 819ft
Prominence: 164 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NY 03838 83330
Nearest city: Dumfries· 9km
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%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Approach from minor roads near Lochmaben or Templand, following farm tracks and field margins up gentle slopes to the 249m summit. About 3km return — allow 1-2 hours.

Terrain

Galloway pastoral land — improved pasture, stiles and farm tracks with a short heather and grass top. Generally dry and easy.

In winter

A mild winter walk. Galloway sits low and southern enough that snow rarely lies; the farm tracks stay open year round.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers White 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

Glasgow3h 40m
Edinburgh2h 16m

OS maps: OS Landranger 78, OS Explorer 322S

Mobile signal: Good. Dumfries and Galloway; EE and Vodafone both give coverage here.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 06mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:44
Sunset: 19:36
Civil dawn: 06:07
Civil dusk: 20:13

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around White Hill on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Kirkcudbright

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

48km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Annandale

Annan — revived 2014; Dumfries & Galloway distillery on the Solway

23km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

White Hill — common questions

Is White Hill a hard climb?: White Hill is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Galloway pastoral land — improved pasture, stiles and farm tracks with a short heather and grass top.
What is White Hill's prominence?: 164m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links White Hill 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.
When is the best time to climb White Hill?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on White Hill. 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 White Hill 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 White Hill?: Good. Dumfries and Galloway; EE and Vodafone both give coverage here.
Is White Hill safe in winter?: A mild winter walk. Galloway sits low and southern enough that snow rarely lies; the farm tracks stay open year round.

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