Scotland
Windy Standard
537M
1762FT
About Windy Standard
Rising above the headwaters of the Water of Ken, this prominent Southern Upland summit is now defined by the sweeping blades of several major wind farms. While the industry is pervasive, the broad, often boggy moorland offers clear views across the Galloway Forest Park towards the distinctive profile of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn.
Key Statistics
Rank
160th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Carsphairn Hills
Prominence
?
102
Nearest Town
Dalmellington
Geology
You are walking on layers of sandstone known as wacke. This rock forms the Marchburn and Kirkcolm foundations that make up this fell.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS524040
Latitude
55.3079°N
Longitude
4.3257°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Middle English 'standard', referring to a prominent landmark or a place where a physical marker or flag was once placed to denote a boundary or gathering point in the high moorlands.
- •It is home to one of the oldest and most significant concentrations of wind power in Scotland; the original Windy Standard wind farm began operating in 1996 and has since been expanded by several subsequent phases across the neighbouring slopes.
- •From the 537m summit, the view extends north over the former mining landscapes of New Cumnock and south towards the rugged granite peaks of the Galloway Hills, including the Merrick and the Awful Hand range.
- •Walkers often combine the summit with a trek to the nearby Cairnsmore of Carsphairn to the southwest, though the terrain between the two is notoriously peat-heavy and requires careful navigation in low visibility.
- •If the name didn’t provide enough of a warning, the presence of dozens of sixty-metre turbines serves as a fairly clear hint that you should pack a windproof jacket.