Windgate Bank

Tucked within the rolling Culter Hills, this rounded grassy ridge offers a quiet alternative to the busier summits nearby. It is characterized by typical Southern Upland terrain—expansive slopes of peat and moorland grass—providing a steady, pathless ascent that rewards walkers with a sense of isolation and vast, open space.

• •The name likely stems from the Scots term 'windgate', denoting a pass or gap where the wind is funnelled, joined with 'bank' to describe the steep, rising side of the ridge.
• •Most walkers reach this summit while completing the high-level horseshoe from Glenkirk, a route that links it with the more prominent Culter Fell and Gathersnow Hill.
• •The summit provides a clear, unobstructed view across the deep valley of the Culter Water towards the sharp profile of Tinto, which dominates the horizon to the northwest.
• •Like many hills in this range, navigation is aided by a sturdy wire fence that follows the ridge line, a helpful handrail when low clouds obscure the featureless grassy tops.
• •Given its name and exposed position between higher massifs, the summit is a place where a windproof jacket is less of a suggestion and more of a requirement.