Crown of Scotland

Rising above the dramatic rim of the Devil’s Beef Tub, this rounded Southern Upland summit offers a front-row seat to one of Scotland’s most impressive glacial hollows. While its grassy slopes are typical of the Moffat Hills, the position provides a clear perspective over the deep, steep-sided basin and the winding A701 below.

• •The hill forms part of the high rim surrounding the Devil’s Beef Tub, a 150-metre deep natural hollow used by the Johnstone clan to hide cattle stolen during cross-border raids.
• •From the summit cairn, there is a clear, uninterrupted view southwards down the Annan Valley toward the town of Moffat, with the sprawling mass of Hart Fell dominating the eastern horizon.
• •Most walkers visit the summit as part of the popular horseshoe route starting from the A701, which links Crown of Scotland with its neighbours, Annanhead Hill and Great Hill.
• •For a peak named the Crown of Scotland, it is surprisingly humble, standing nearly 800 metres shorter than Ben Nevis and often requiring a significant amount of bog-hopping to reach.