Scotland
Colsnaur Hill
553M
1814FT
About Colsnaur Hill
Rising steeply above the village of Menstrie, this grassy summit marks the western reaches of the Ochil plateau. It offers a quieter alternative to the popular Dumyat nearby. The climb is sharp but rewarded by a grandstand view of Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument standing proud above the winding River Forth.
Key Statistics
Rank
29th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Ochil Hills
Prominence
?
26
Nearest Town
Menstrie
Geology
You’re walking across the Ochil Volcanic Formation, a landscape built from layers of ancient lava flows and hardened, pebbly rock.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Bengengie Hill
Myreton Hill
Bengengie Hill
Mid Cairn [Craig Leith]
Mid Cairn [Craig Leith]
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS861993
Latitude
56.1729°N
Longitude
3.8360°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Gaelic 'Cùil', meaning a nook or corner, referring to the hill's tucked-away position behind the primary southern escarpment of the range.
- •The summit offers a specific, 'birds-eye' view of the Menstrie Glen to the east, a deep-cut valley that separates Colsnaur from the neighbouring Myreton Hill.
- •While nearby peaks have heavily eroded motorway-style paths, the route up Colsnaur remains largely trackless grass, requiring a bit more effort and navigational awareness in low cloud.
- •From the top, the view extends past the industrial chimneys of Grangemouth to the distant cranes of the Fife shipyards and the silhouettes of the Pentland Hills south of Edinburgh.
- •It is a hill that rewards the optimistic navigator; while the map suggests a simple ridge walk, the terrain often conspires to ensure you finish the day with at least one boot full of peat-stained water.