Scotland
Auchensow Hill
420M
1378FT
About Auchensow Hill
Rising above the steep-sided Mennock Pass, this rounded Southern Uplands summit offers a quieter alternative to the neighbouring Lowther Hills. The terrain is characterized by the thick, tussocky grass typical of the region, rewarding the short, steep pull from the valley floor with expansive views across the Nith Valley toward the Scaur Hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
372nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
104m
Nearest Town
Dumfries and Galloway
Geology
You are walking upon the Portpatrick Formation. This landscape is made of a sandstone called wacke, which formed from layers of sediment on an ancient seafloor.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS837089
Latitude
55.3605°N
Longitude
3.8361°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Gaelic 'Achadh' (field), combined with the Scots 'sow', a term often used to describe a long, rounded mound or haycock, reflecting the hill’s profile from the valley below.
- •The hill sits in a historically significant corridor; the nearby Mennock Pass was a primary route for transporting lead ore from the mines at Wanlockhead down to the railway at Sanquhar.
- •Long-distance walkers on the Southern Upland Way pass within a mile of the summit as they traverse the section between Sanquhar and the high-altitude village of Wanlockhead.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point to view the 'golf ball' radar station atop Great Lowther Hill, which dominates the skyline to the east.
- •Categorised as a Hump, the hill possesses at least 100 metres of prominence, ensuring it stands out as a distinct entity rather than a mere shoulder of its higher neighbours.