Scotland
Cruffel
557M
1828FT
About Cruffel
Tucked away in the quiet Carsphairn Hills, this 557-metre peak offers a classic Southern Uplands experience. Its grassy, rounded slopes rise above the forestry of the Water of Ken valley. Though overshadowed by the higher Meaul, it provides a sense of isolation and a distinct, wild character common to this undulating region.
Key Statistics
Rank
118th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Carsphairn Hills
Prominence
?
20
Nearest Town
Dalgonar
Geology
Cruffel is built upon the Kirkcolm Formation, which consists of a hard, muddy sandstone. This rock formed from thick layers of sediment settling on the seafloor.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS694051
Latitude
55.3227°N
Longitude
4.0587°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Cruffel is likely derived from the Old Norse 'krāka-fjall', meaning 'crow hill', a linguistic link shared with the more prominent Criffel on the Solway coast that highlights the historical Norse influence in Dumfries and Galloway.
- •The hill is often climbed as part of a high-level ridge walk connecting it to Meaul and Bow, forming a wide arc around the headwaters of the Water of Ken.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a superb view across the valley to the rugged eastern escarpments of the Rhinns of Kells, with the distinctive profiles of Corserine and Meikle Millyea dominating the western horizon.
- •Progress between Cruffel and its neighbours is often dictated by your ability to negotiate the 'flow' country—a landscape of deep peat hags and hidden mosses that remain stubbornly wet in all but the driest summers.