Scotland
Shielhope Hill
539M
1768FT
About Shielhope Hill
Rising above the southern shores of St Mary’s Loch, this grassy Southern Upland shoulder offers a quintessential Borders walking experience. Its steep, heather-flecked slopes lead to a broad summit that provides an expansive outlook over the Megget Reservoir and the rolling peaks of the Moffat Hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
221st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Moffat Hills
Prominence
?
21
Nearest Town
Meggethead
Geology
You are walking on the Queensberry Formation, where layers of ancient sand, mud, and pebbles have compressed into the solid ground beneath your feet.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT206202
Latitude
55.4700°N
Longitude
3.2567°W
Did You Know?
- •The name originates from the Scots 'shiel', referring to a shepherd's summer hut, and 'hope', a term common in the Southern Uplands for a small, enclosed valley or hollow.
- •It is typically climbed as part of a high-level circuit starting from the Megget Stone, a historic boundary marker situated at the pass between the Megget and Talla valleys.
- •From the top, there is a clear, linear view down the length of St Mary’s Loch, framed by the steep slopes of Oxcleuch Rig and the distant Ettrick Forest.
- •The lower eastern slopes above the Shielhope Burn contain several ancient stone sheep folds, marking the hill's long history as vital summer grazing land.
- •The summit plateau is so broad and featureless that on a misty afternoon, identifying the true high point provides a stern test of one's faith in their own compass.